Setting  out  Plants. 


CABBAGE 

AND 

CAULIFLOWER 

FOR  PROFIT. 


BY  J.  M.  LUPTON. 


WITH  FIFTY-THREE  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

W.  ATLEE  BURPEE  & CO., 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 

1905. 


Copyright,  1894,  by  W.  Atlee  Burpee  & Co. 


WM.  F.  FELL  & CO., 
ELECTROTYPERS  AND  PRINTERS 
1220-24  SANSOM  STREET, 

PHILADELPHIA. 


PREFACE. 


Men’s  ideas  change.  The  farmer  who  a few  years  ago  was 
disposed  to  sneer  contemptuously  at  farmers’  books  and 
“ book  farmers  ” now  turns  for  information  to  the  printed 
page.  Gradually  we  have  learned  that  intelligence,  science, 
and  study  are  no  mean  factors  in  the  successful  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  and  that  the  labor  of  the  hands  is  most  prolific  when 
backed  by  the  careful  study  of  the  brain. 

It  may  De  true  that  much  has  been  written  which  has  little 
or  no  practical  value  to  the  agriculturist,  but  the  fact  remains 
that  the  research  of  scientific  men,  given  to  the  agricultural 
people  through  the  medium  of  the  printing  press,  has  fre- 
quently turned  a losing  business  into  a paying  one,  while 
through  the  same  medium  the  interchange  of  thought  and 
experience  of  those  who,  like  the  writer  of  this  book,  have 
gained  their  education  in  the  fields  has  been  by  no  means 
without  beneficial  results. 

How  easy  it  is  to  tell  in  a few  short  sentences  that  which 
we  have  been  years  in  finding  out ! Knowledge  comes  slowly 
and  laboriously  from  the  fields,  and  yet  the  closest  observa- 
tion of  the  character  of  a plant,  its  habits,  likes  and  dislikes, 
and  the  habits  of  its  enemies  seldom  goes  unrewarded,  and 
such  knowledge  as  we  gain,  given  to  the  public,  may  be  the 
means  of  helping  many  a cultivator. 

The  work  of  the  enterprising  publishers  of  this  book  cannot 
fail  to  be  appreciated.  Already  we  have  from  their  hands  a 

v 


vi 


PREFACE. 


number  of  little  volumes,  each  one  treating  of  some  special 
subject,  which  are  supplied  to  the  gardening  public  at  merely 
nominal  cost.  We  regard  this  method  as  most  commendable, 
because  it  concentrates  the  thought  and  experience  of  the 
writer  upon  some  particular  plant  and  disseminates  a more 
complete  knowledge  of  the  character  and  habits  of  that  plant 
than  would  be  possible  were  the  author’s  effort  made  to  cover 
more  ground. 

Much  has  been  written  of  Cabbages  and  Cauliflowers,  and 
yet  they  are  strangers  to  many  a garden.  The  Cauliflower 
especially  has  by  no  means  received  that  share  of  attention  to 
which  it  is  entitled,  being  almost  unknown  in  some  markets. 
This  book  will  reach  the  hands  of  many  a man  who  is  strug- 
gling along  to  make  both  ends  meet  raising  hay  and  wheat 
and  corn.  Possibly  his  difficulties  might  find  solution  in  the 
adoption  of  a different  line.  Is  there  a market  gardening 
section  anywhere  in  your  neighborhood  ! If  so,  do  you  not  find 
that  one  acre  there  is  worth  three  of  yours  ; that  three  times 
the  labor  is  employed  to  till  it ; three  times  the  fertilizer  is 
expended  on  it ; it  produces  three  times  the  crop  ; brings  the 
owner  three  times  the  profit,  and  finally  the  market  value  of 
the  land  itself  is  three  times  as  great  ? 

We  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  advocating  any  general 
change  on  the  part  of  farmers  from  an  agricultural  to  a hor- 
ticultural business.  That  such  a change  is  desirable  in  thou- 
sands of  instances  I have  no  doubt,  but  the  conditions  which 
surround  you  and  the  results  of  your  own  experience  are  the 
best  guides ; they  alone  can  tell  whether  the  ideas  set  forth 
in  the  following  pages  contain  suggestions  for  the  field  or  the 
kitchen -garden. 

If  there  is  one  general  idea  more  than  another  which  is 
detrimental  in  its  operation  to  the  welfare  of  our  agricultural 
classes  it  is  the  old  notion  that  we  must  continue  to  plant  the 
same  things  which  our  fathers  planted  before  us.  Many  a 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


farmer  is  to-day  growing  wheat  at  a loss  for  no  better  reason 
than  that  his  father  grew  wheat  before  him.  Wheat  has  always 
been  grown  on  the  farm,  and  although  it  don’t  pay  he  still  con- 
tinues to  plant  it.  These  methods  are  ruinous.  To  him  who 
can  grow  wheat  at  a profit  we  must  yield  the  palm.  To  many 
of  us  the  secret  of  success  lies  in  boldly  stepping  out  of  the 
old  tracks  to  look  for  the  reward  which  is  found  in  keeping 
abreast  of  the  times. 

A hope  comes  to  me  as  I write,  a hope  that  somewhere 
within  the  pages  of  this  book  there  may  be  found  a suggestion, 
an  idea,  a thought,  which,  taken  into  the  fields,  may  prove  of 
practical  value  to  some  one  who  will  read  this  book.  This 
must  be  the  author’s  apology  for  his  work. 

J.  M.  L. 

Mattituck,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

January , 1895. 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

Before  proceeding  to  any  consideration  of  the  cultivation 
of  cabbages  and  cauliflowers,  it  may  be  well  to  look  briefly 
into  those  conditions  which  render  the  crop  profitable  and 
its  planting  desirable.  • 

Thousands  of  farmers  to-day  are  turning  over  in  their 
minds  the  desirable  features  of  this  or  that  special  crop. 
Many  of  them  are  puzzled  for  a satisfactory  solution  of  that 
ever-recurring  question,  “ What  shall  we  plant  ? ” I am  a be- 
liever in  specialties,  both  for  the  farmer  and  the  gardener. 
While  it  is  not  advisable  to  depend  too  fully  on  any  one  thing, 
it  is  always  a good  plan  to  have  some  leading  crop  which 
should  receive  a good  share  of  our  attention.  In  this  way  we 
may  become  more  than  usually  proficient  in  the  cultivation 
and  production  of  this  particular  crop,  and,  what  is  more  to 
the  point,  our  name  becomes  known  in  the  markets  for  the 
excellence  of  the  goods.  In  this  way  a trade  is  established. 
The  produce  which  is  known  to  be  good  is  always  in  demand. 
It  is  singled  out  by  the  grower’s  name  on  the  package  and 
finds  ready  sale  at  remunerative  prices,  while  an  unknown 
brand  is  neglected  or  sold  for  a song. 

In  considering  the  advisability  of  planting  cabbages  or 
cauliflowers,  the  market  we  have  at  hand  and  our  facilities  for 

9 


IO 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


reaching  it  should  receive  careful  attention.  These  crops  are 
both  bulky  and  perishable ; they  may  both  be  carried  long 
distances,  but  in  warm  or  wet  weather  are  likely  to  reach  the 
market  in  unsatisfactory  condition  unless  promptly  handled. 
This  is  especially  true  of  cauliflowers.  The  early  crop  of  this 
vegetable,  marketed  in  the  months  of  June,  July,  or  August, 
ought  to  reach  the  consumer  in  twenty-four  hours  after  being 
cut  in  the  fields.  The  late  crop,  however,  marketed  in  the 
months  of  October  and  November,  will  stand  carriage  of  three, 
days  if  proper  care  is  taken  to  put  them  up  in  good  condi- 
tion. 

Our  situation  should  be  such  that  we  can  handle  the  crop 
promptly  at  maturity  and  at  no  excessive  cost  for  transporta- 
tion. If  a man  is  located  eight  or  ten  miles  from  the  rail- 
way station  he  will  find  that  the  item  of  cartage  is  so  great 
as  to  l£ave  but  small  margin  of  profit  in  the  close  competition 
of  the  present  time.  If  he  is  located  on  a railway  line  where 
freights  are  so  slow  and  unsatisfactory  as  to  make  his  ship- 
ments uncertain,  and  express  charges  are  so  high  as  to  make 
shipping  by  express  too  costly,  he  should  first  secure  the 
proper  transportation  facilities,  or  the  planting  of  these  crops 
may  result  in  disappointment. 

The  gardener  who  is  situated  within  driving  distance 
of  a large  market  is  always  at  an  advantage  over  his  more 
distant  competitor ; not  only  can  he  make  considerable 
savings  in  the  matter  of  commissions  on  sales  and  transporta- 
tion, but,  being  in  constant  communication  with  the 
market,  he  is  always  in  a position  to  take  advantage  of  its 
fluctuations.  This  is  well  worthy  of  the  attention  of  intend- 
ing purchasers.  The  land  for  gardening  purposes  within  ten 
miles  of  a great  city  may  cost  five  times  the  price  of  equally 
suitable  land  one  hundred  miles  away,  but  it  is  well  worth  the 
difference.  The  better  opportunities  offered  by  its  position 
will  always  enable  a man  who  is  wide  awake  and  alive  to  his 


INTRODUCTORY. 


II 


opportunities  to  realize  enough  more  to  pay  the  additional 
interest  on  his  investment,  and  the  natural  expansion  of  any 
large  town  ought  to  insure  him  against  pecuniary  loss  in  the 
event  of  a desire  to  sell. 

But  these  facts  need  not  deter  a man  from  planting  cab- 
bages or  cauliflower  provided  he  has  or  can  secure  the  proper 
facilities  for  reaching  market.  What  is  to-day  the  greatest 
cauliflower-producing  section  of  the  country  is  located  seventy 
to  ninety  miles  from  New  York  city. 

In  summing  up  this  question  of  profit  and  loss  on  such 
crops,  I cannot  do  better  than  to  relate  briefly  the  effect  of 
the  development  of  this  and  similar  productions  upon  a sec- 
tion which  has,  during  the  period  of  this  development,  been 
fully  under  the  observation  of  the  writer. 

At  the  present  time  perhaps  a fair  market  value  for  good 
farming  land  here,  favorably  situated,  might  be  placed  at  $150 
per  acre.  This  is  probably  double  the  value  of  the  same  land 
fifteen  years  ago,  and  cannot  be  laid  to  any  influence  outside 
the  gradual  development  of  the  agricultural  and  horticultural 
interest.  Within  the  same  period  the  money-producing 
power  of  our  farms  has  probably  increased  threefold, — in 
many  instances  much  more.  I have  seen  the  farm  of  one  gen- 
eration divided  into  three  parts  by  the  next  and  each  part 
made  to  produce  three  times  the  value  of  the  original  whole. 
At  the  same  time  there  may  be  found,  at  one-half  the  distance 
from  our  great  markets  of  New  York  city  and  Brooklyn,  just 
as  good  land  which  has  not  gained  a dollar  in  its  marketable 
value  during  the  same  period.  There  we  find  farmers  who 
continue  to  follow  the  old  ruts  and,  throwing  away  the  oppor- 
tunity which  is  within  their  reach,  insist  on  keeping  up  the 
hopeless  competition  with  the  great  West  in  the  production  of 
hay,  corn,  and  wheat. 

Thus  we  find  under  our  own  eyes  two  sections,  one  practi- 
cally at  a standstill,  farmers  discouraged,  struggling  along  to 


12 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


make  both  ends  meet,  and  making  really  no  headway.  The 
other,  under  conditions  precisely  the  same,  goes  forward  with 
the  rest  of  the  world, — farmers  doing  more  business,  meeting 
with  more  success,  living  in  greater  comfort, — and  why? 
Well,  back  of  it  all  I can  see  the  introduction  of  two  plants 
which  has  led  to  a narrowing  down  of  the  farm  crops  in  favor 
of  the  greater  opportunities  to  be  found  in  the  cultivation  of 
some  specialties  of  the  garden,  the  same  two  plants  which 
form  the  subject  of  the  writer’s  work,  and  are  worthy  of  the 
reader’s  most  careful  consideration. 


CHAPTER  II. 


SEED. 

A QUESTION  OF  THE  FIRST  IMPORTANCE. 

I feel  constrained  to  enter  into  this  question  more  in  detail 
than  usual  with  a book  of  this  character.  Seed  does  not 
enter  largely  into  the  cost  of  producing  a crop ; for  this  rea- 
son its  importance  is  frequently  overlooked,  and  yet  we  must 
have  good  seed  or  every  expenditure  and  every  effort  is  at  a 
discount.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  two  plants  we  have 
under  consideration,  and  for  this  reason,  and  because  we 
think  it  well  for  every  cultivator  to  become  well-acquainted 
with  the  plant  he  grows,  I shall  give  expression  to  a few 
thoughts  on  seed  breeding. 

Size,  appearance,  and  germ i native  power  have  nothing  to 
do  with  the  actual  quality  of  seed.  Though  these  char- 
acteristics are  valuable  in  themselves,  they  are  fully  as  good 
and  frequently  better  in  seed  of  poor  quality  than  in  the  best. 

The  peculiarities  and  valuable  traits  of  character  are  no 
more  surely  transmitted  from  one  generation  to  another  in 
the  animal  kingdom  than  they  are  in  the  vegetable  world, 
and  the  character  of  the  parent  stock  is,  above  all  other  con- 
siderations, that  which  determines  the  quality  of  the  seed. 

The  only  part  of  the  cabbage  plant  which  we  now  regard  as 
valuable,  i.  e.,  the  head,  was  not  a natural  product  of  the 
plant,  which,  when  first  discovered,  produced  simply  a cluster 
of  leaves.  The  head  is  a result  of  cultivation  and  breeding 
with  the  purpose  of  its  establishment.  The  development  of 
the  heading  capacity  of  the  plant  has  been  going  on  for  years, 

*3 


14 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


and  is  still  going  on,  probably  no  similar  period  in  its  history 
showing  more  improvement  in  this  respect  and  in  the  quality 
of  the  seed  sold  by  seedsmen  than  the  last  ten  years. 

The  means  adopted  to  secure  this  end  are  principally  a con- 
stant series  of  selections  for  seeding  purposes. 

While  it  is  impossible  here,  and  perhaps  undesirable,  to 
enter  into  any  consideration  of  the  multitudinous  features  of 
different  varieties,  we  may  look  briefly  into  some  of  the  gen- 
eral characteristics  which  run  in  greater  or  less  degree  through 
the  cabbage  family  generally. 

Let  us  look  at  the  leaves.  Here  we  see  a decided  difference 


Fig.  i. — Leaf  of  Good  Type.  Fig.  2.— Leaf  of  Poor  Type. 


between  what  we  would  consider  a good  type  and  a poor  one. 
We  find  in  the  good  types  that  the  leaves  are  broad,  nearly 
round  in  form,  the  leaf  extending  to  the  juncture  with  the 
stalk,  the  smaller  veins  running  well  down  and  joining  the 
mid-rib  at  the  base  where  it  joins  the  stalk.  In  the  poor  type 
it  is  different.  Here  a stem,  sometimes  as  much  as  six  or  eight 
inches  long,  intervenes  between  the  leaf  proper  and  the  stalk ; 
as  the  botanist  would  say,  it  is  petioled.  The  leaf  itself  is 
comparatively  narrow,  while  its  general  character  is  different, 
as  shown  in  Figs,  i and  2. 

The  leaf  of  a good  type  is  of  a spoon-like  form,  following 


SEED.  15 

in  shape  the  contour  of  the  head,  the  upper  edge  turn- 
ing up. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  leaf  of  a poor  type  stands  out  nearly 
straight  from  the  stalk,  the  outer  edge  usually  turning  down. 
This  feature  will  be  observed  in  greater  or  less  degree  accord- 
ing as  the  plant  is  more  or  less  faulty. 

Next  let  us  look  at  the  stalk,  and  we  find  that  the  two  evils 
frequently  go  together,  the  faulty  leaves  usually  being  affixed 
to  a poor  stalk.  In  the  good  type  the  stalk  is  short  but  strong, 
quite  large  immediately  under  the  head  where  the  outer  leaves 
join  it  closely  one  upon  another;  it  tapers  sharply  to  its 


Fig.  3.— Showing  Char-  Fig.  4.— Character  of  Fig.  5.  — Showing  Stem 

acter  of  Stem  in  Good  Stem  in  Poor  Type.  Long  from  Over-crowd- 

Type.  ing. 


junction  with  the  ground,  at  which  point  it  is  comparatively 
small.  In  the  poor  type  almost  the  reverse  will  be  observed. 
The  stalk  is  larger  at  the  ground,  much  longer,  and  the  leaves, 
usually  of  the  petioled  form,  join  the  stalk  more  loosely.  It 
is  true  that  the  stalk  of  a plant  may  be  made  long  by  over- 
crowding, in  which  case  the  fault  is  not,  of  course,  with  the 
plant ; but  the  difference  resulting  from  such  cause  is  readily 
detected  by  the  expert  and  ought  not  to  be  misunderstood. 
To  make  the  different  features  more  clear,  we  invite  a study 
of  the  accompanying  illustrations. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  head,  which  we  have  referred  to  as 


i6 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


being  an  unnatural  production  of  the  original  plant.  We 
find  here  a constant  tendency  to  revert  to  the  original  type, 
and  the  defects  which  we  have  previously  noted  in  the  leaves 
and  stalk  appear  to  have  little  to  do  with  a faulty  construction 
of  the  head — that  is,  we  frequently  find  the  faulty  construc- 
tion in  the  plant  where  the  head  appears  all  right,  though 
small,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  find 
a very  poor  head  on  a good  plant. 

Aside  from  any  consideration  of  form,  which  differs  in  dif- 
ferent varieties  and  cannot  be  entered  into  here  in  detail,  the 
point  most  to  be  sought  for  in  cabbages  of  all  classes  is 


Fig.  6.— Showing  Cabbage  Solid  at 
Base  of  Head. 

solidity.  If  faulty  in  construction,  the  head  will  lack 
solidity,  either  directly  on  top  and  at  the  center  or  upon  the 
under  side  near  the  stalk.  This  defect  may  be  understood  by 
a study  of  the  accompanying  figures. 

A lack  of  solidity  at  the  base  of  the  head  may  readily  be 
determined  by  placing  our  hands  under  the  base  of  the  head, 
between  it  and  the  outside  leaves,  when  we  can  tell  by  press- 
ing upward  against  the  head  if  its  formation  at  the  base  is 
close  and  compact  insuring  solidity,  or  if  it  be  loose,  and  for 
this  reason  likely  to  deteriorate  in  successive  generations. 
Cabbages  of  loose  formation  at  the  base  of  the  head,  even 


SEED. 


17 


though  they  may  be  perfect  specimens  in  other  respects,  are 
much  lighter  in  weight  than  where  the  formation  is  solid,  and 
should  be  avoided  so  far  as  possible. 

This  point  is  well  worthy  the  consideration  of  the  seed 
breeder,  but  it  is  by  no  means  a matter  of  so  much  import- 
ance as  a lack  of  solidity  at  the  top  and  center  of  the  head, 
for  in  this  we  find  that  tendency  to  revert  to  the  original  type 
which  produces  no  head  at  all  and  is  worthless  (Fig.  n). 

In  the  consideration  of  this  feature,  we  find  that  the  leaves 
which  go  to  make  up  and  form  the  head  must,  in  all  instances, 


Fig.  8. — Head  of  Perfect  Specimen.  Solidity  Insured  by  Leaves  Growing  across 

the  Top. 

lap  over  and  across  the  center  (Fig.  8),  and  the  farther  we 
can  go  in  this  direction  the  better  will  be  our  cabbage. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  leaves  forming  the  head  do  not 
lap  across  the  center  (Figs.  9,  10),  but  leave  a triangular 
space  at  the  center  of  the  head  not  covered  by  the  outer  leaves 
which  form  it,  even  though  in  this  instance  the  head  may 
appear  fairly  solid,  successive  generations  will  rapidly  deterio- 
rate, and  if  used  continuously  for  producing  seed  might  result 
in  great  depreciation  of  the  heading  capacity  of  the  plant, 

2 


1 8 CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 

The  health  and  vigor  of  a plant  is  a feature  which  neither 


Fig.  9. — Head  of  Imperfect  Specimen  Lacking  Solidity,  from  Failure  of  Leaves 
to  Lap  across  the  Center. 


Fig.  10. — Showing  Deterioration  of  the  Plant  in  Succeeding  Generations,  when 
Bred  from  Imperfect  Types,  as  shown  by  Fig.  9,  and  Reversion  toward  the 
Original  Type  of  Cabbage  as  illustrated  by  Fig.  11. 


a seed-grower  nor  a gardener  can  afford  to  disregard.  A 
strong  constitution  is  plainly  discernible  in  the  color  and 


SEED. 


!9 


robust  habit  of  growth  of  the  plant,  while  impaired  vitality  is 
easily  detected  by  a peculiar  glassy  appearance,  and  pale,  sickly 
coloring  of  the  leaves.  It  is  a disregard  of  the  importance 
of  this  feature  which  causes  a variety  to  “run  out.”  The 
constitution  of  the  plant  has  become  so  enfeebled  that  it  fails 
to  produce  seed  of  good  germinative  power,  and  the  plant  so 
readily  succumbs  to  the  attacks  of  its  natural  enemies  as  to 
render  its  cultivation  unprofitable. 

The  principal  faults  which  we  have  noted  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  cabbage  plant,  those  of  the  leaves  and  stalks,  may 


Fig.  ii.— Illustrating  Wild  or  Original  Type  of  Cabbage. 


apply  with  some  modifications  to  the  cauliflower  plant  also. 
The  leaves  are,  of  course,  long  by  comparison,  but  in  the 
good  type  will  stand  closely  up  to  and  around  the  head,  while 
in  those  of  faulty  construction  they  stand  out  almost  horizon- 
tally from  the  stalk,  which  presents  the  faults  we  have  noted 
in  the  cabbage. 

Loss  to  the  gardener  from  poor  cauliflower  seed  usually  re- 
sults either  in  the  entire  failure  of  the  plants  to  produce  heads 
or  in  the  inferior  character  of  the  heads  when  produced. 


20 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


We  have  seen  whole  acres  which  produced  enormous  heads 
of  utterly  worthless  trash,  as  well  as  acres  which  pro- 
duced no  heads  at  all,  and  our  experience  leads  us  to  believe 
that  the  fault  lies  in  each  instance  with  the  seed,  and  with 
the  seed  alone.  The  failure  to  head  seems  to  be  largely  the 
result  of  planting  seed  grown  in  a southern  country.  We 
have  been  utterly  unable  to  secure  a crop  of  cauliflower  from 
seed  grown  in  Italy,  while  the  same  variety  from  seed  grown 
in  Denmark  would  produce  finely,  and  it  is  quite  probable 
that  the  length  of  the  season  in  which  the  seed  is  produced 
is  a potent  factor  in  determining  the  length  of  season  re- 
quired to  mature  the  product  of  that  seed.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
it  is  a fact  that  while  the  plants  from  seed  grown  in  southern 
countries  grow  vigorously,  and  apparently  mature,  it  is  only 
in  isolated  cases  that  they  will  produce  heads  in  this  latitude. 

The  other  source  of  failure  is  clearly  the  result  of  bad  seed- 
growing. We  have  seen  fields  where  nearly  every  plant  pro- 
duced a beautiful  head,  clear,  white,  and  perfect,  while  but  a 
few  rods  distant  another  sample  of  seed  grown  under  the 
same  conditions,  upon  the  same  soil,  and  with  the  same  care 
and  attention,  produced  heads  so  covered  with  leaves  as  to  be 
worthless.  For  this  we  can  see  but  one  cause : those  plants 
which  have  given  us  good  heads  and  profitable  returns  were 
produced  from  seed  of  equally  good  plants,  while  those  which 
have  produced  nothing  worth  marketing,  and  entailed  upon 
us  a loss  of  money  and  labor,  were  the  product  of  seed  grown 
from  impure  and  worthless  stocks.  This  is  nature’s  law,  and 
the  responsibility  for  our  loss  belongs  to  the  seed-grower  who 
has  produced  the  seed  and  the  dealer  who  has  sold  it. 

But  where  shall  we  get  good  seed  ? Ten  years  ago  a gar- 
dener would  have  told  you  that  you  must  grow  it  yourself.  It 
was  the  custom  a few  years  ago,  and  to  some  extent  the  cus- 
tom prevails  to-day,  for  gardeners  to  grow  their  own  seeds 
and  a small  supply  for  the  requirements  of  their  neighbors, 


SEED. 


21 


which  they  retailed  to  them  at  a rather  extravagant  price. 
This  is  not  practiced  so  much  as  formerly.  The  gardening 
public  are  looking  more  and  more  to  the  seedsmen  for  their 
supplies,  and  on  inquiring  among  our  more  progressive  gar- 
deners I am  gratified  to  find  a growing  belief  that  they  can 
secure  even  better  seeds  from  the  seed  store  than  they  can 
grow  themselves.  I say  gratified,  because  this  is  right.  The 
professional  seedsman  and  seed  grower  brings  more  study  and 
thought,  more  knowledge,  experience,  and  intelligent  effort 
into  the  development  of  a plant  than  is  possible  to  the  gar- 
dener with  the  multitudinous  duties  of  the  market  garden  on 
his  hands,  and  it  is  to  them  we  must  turn  for  the  greatest 
advancement  toward  better  things.  But  what  we  want  above 
all  things  is  to  know  that  this  professional  knowledge  has 
been  applied  to  the  particular  lot  of  seed  we  are  about  to 
plant.  This  we  can  only  know  by  our  faith  in  the  man  of 
whom  we  purchase. 

Above  all  other  considerations  I am  impressed  by  the  fact 
that  safety  to  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  world  lies  in 
the  creation  of  a demand  for  the  very  best,  and  that  only. 
Cheap  seed  is  dearly  bought.  Low  prices  force  the  grower  to 
adopt  the  cheapest  means  of  production,  with  inferior  quality 
as  a sure  result. 

He  who  would  succeed  in  the  growing  of  these  vegetables 
must  pay  little  attention  to  the  price  at  which  the  seed  is 
offered,  but  make  sure  that  it  comes  from  a source  where 
quality  is  made  the  first  requisite,  and  that  it  has  had  in  its 
production  the  benefit  of  that  knowledge  and  intelligent 
work  so  necessary  to  success. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  SOIL  AND  ITS  PREPARATION. 

While  it  is  true,  as  we  have  often  seen  it  stated,  that  cab- 
bage or  cauliflower  will  thrive  on  a great  variety  of  soil  and 
grow  to  some  extent  on  almost  any  soil,  the  choice  of  loca- 
tion has  always  an  important  bearing  on  future  success.  Con- 
tinued planting  upon  the  same  piece  of  ground  is  usually 
attended  with  disastrous  results,  and  it  is  very  unwise  to  fol- 
low such  crops  as  turnips,  Brussels  sprouts,  or  plants  of  similar 
character.  Experience  leads  us  to  believe  that  the  ideal  con- 
dition of  soil  for  the  late  or  fall  crop  of  cabbage  or  cauli- 
flower is  found  in  an  old  pasture  lot  of  rich  land,  which  has 
been  plowed  early  in  the  spring  and  kept  harrowed  and  cul- 
tivated during  the  summer  until  its  use  is  required  in  July, 
when  it  can  again  be  plowed,  the  sod  by  this  time  being 
well  decomposed.  It  is  upon  such  land,  prepared  in  such 
manner,  that  we  have  seen  these  plants  attain  their  highest 
state  of  development,  and,  where  the  land  is  not  too  valuable 
and  a considerable  portion  of  the  farm  is  kept  in  grass,  this 
method  of  preparation  is  advisable  for  a late  crop.  The 
extra  expense  of  summer  cultivation  will  be  amply  repaid  by 
the  increased  value  of  the  fall  crop  grown  under  such  favor- 
able circumstances. 

With  the  average  market  gardener,  however,  this  plan  is 
next  to  impossible ; his  land  is  valuable  from  its  location  in 
close  proximity  to  a large  town,  and  he  finds  it  necessary  to 
keep  every  available  acre  filled  with  a growing  crop  during 


22 


THE  SOIL  AND  ITS  PREPARATION. 


23 


the  entire  season,  while  but  little,  and  in  many  instances  no 
land  at  all,  is  devoted  to  grass. 

Here  the  most  popular  method  seems  to  be  that  of  follow- 
ing the  potato  crop,  the  late  planting  of  cabbage  or  cauli- 
flower being  made  upon  land  from  which  a crop  of  early 
potatoes  has  been  taken  off,  and  the  spring  planting  being 
made  most  frequently  upon  ground  where  late  potatoes  were 
harvested  the  previous  fall. 

Every  practical  market  gardener  knows,  however,  that  the 
continued  cropping  of  the  land  induces  a mechanical  con- 
dition unfavorable  to  the  growing  crop ; the  constant  tramp- 
ing over  the  fields  incident  to  cultivating  and  harvesting  the 
crop  so  packs  the  soil  that  something  in  the  nature  of  loosen- 
ing material  must  be  plowed  under  in  order  to  secure  that 
condition  conducive  to  rapid  growth  and  healthy  develop- 
ment. Where  horse  manure  can  be  readily  secured  and  forms 
the  main  reliance  for  fertilizing  material  the  danger  from  this 
source  is  reduced  to  a minimum,  but  outside  the  radius  of  a 
few  miles  from  the  large  towns  this  article  is  usually  hard  to 
^obtain,  as  well  as  expensive.  In  such  instances  it  becomes 
necessary  to  supply  in  some  other  way  the  loosening  element 
so  absolutely  necessary  to  continued  success.  A fairly  satis- 
factory condition  may  be  obtained  by  plowing  under  some 
green  crop,  and  the  benefits  arising  therefrom  will  be  noted 
for  several  years.  Clover  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  very 
best  plants  for  the  purpose,  and  its  character  is  such  that, 
with  liberal  supplies  of  potash,  it  can  always  be  grown  upon 
good  land. 

The  fall  crop  can  be  planted  upon  a clover  sod  from  which 
a crop  of  hay  has  been  removed  earlier  in  the  season  and  the 
second  growth  plowed  under  with  excellent  results,  the  change 
from  those  crops  requiring  continuous  cultivation  to  those  of 
the  character  of  clover  seeming  to  have  the  effect  of  renovat- 
ing the  soil  and  leaving  it  in  healthy  condition.  Millet  is 


24 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


also  an  excellent  plant  for  this  purpose,  and  the  various  grains 
are  used  to  some  extent,  oats  proving  most  satisfactory  in 
the  experience  of  the  writer.* 

The  one  thing  which  is  essential  to  continued  success  is 
the  keeping  of  the  ground  in  good  mechanical  condition, 
which  gives  the  air  free  access  to  the  roots  of  the  plants 
and  enables  the  delicate  fibers  to  reach  out  with  the  utmost 
freedom. 

Good,  rich  land  in  which  we  find  a strong  suggestion  of 
sand,  which  renders  it  free  and  loose,  is  unquestionably  the 
best  soil  for  such  crops.  Of  course,  the  cultivator,  being  com- 
pelled to  take  things  as  he  finds  them,  may  not  always  have 
at  hand  just  such  a piece  of  ground  as  he  would  like,  and  the 
question  he  has  to  decide  is,  if  with  the  soil  that  is  available 
he  can  ' expect  satisfactory  results.  A stiff  clay  soil  which 
breaks  up  in  lumps  and  clods  in  the  spring  and  is  liable  to 
crack  and  bake  as  the  season  advances  is  not  a good  place  for 
such  crops,  and  such  soils  should  be  previously  prepared  by 
underdraining  and  liberally  supplied  with  organic  matter  before 
we  can  hope  for  success.  At  the  same  time  the  soil  should  be 
of  a retentive  character,  as  the  plants  require  a great  deal  of 
moisture  for  their  most  perfect  development.  We  would, 
therefore,  caution  our  readers  against  planting  upon  too  sandy 
a soil,  or  one  which  will  not  withstand  a reasonable  amount  of 
dry  weather ; gravelly  hillsides  should  be  avoided  if  possible, 
and  a location  secured  where  the  crop  may  be  kept  in  growing 


* Wherever  crimson  clover  can  be  grown  it  ought  to  prove  a most  valu- 
able green  manure  for  these  crops.  Not  only  does  it  improve  the  mechanical, 
condition  of  soils,  but  being  one  of  our  best  gatherers  of  atmospheric 
nitrogen,  supplies  at  minimum  cost  the  most  expensive  element  of  a 
complete  manure.  The  quick  growth  of  the  plant,  thn  rapidity  of 
decomposition  when  turned  under,  and  its  activity  in  reducing  to  soluble 
forms  inert  soil  constituents  renders  crimson  clover  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant plants  of  the  great  order  of  Leguminosse. 


THE  SOIL  AND  ITS  PREPARATION. 


25 


condition  during  hot,  dry  weather.  Excessive  rainfall  does 
not,  as  a rule,  cause  much  damage  to  such  crops,  especially 
those  grown  in  the  fall  when  the  weather  is  cool,  but  constant 
stirring  of  the  soil  is  as  undesirable  at  such  times  as  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  in  dry  seasons.  In  wet  times  it  is  best 
to  keep  off  the  land,  except  so  far  as  may  be  necessary  to  keep 
the  crop  free  from  weeds,  while  in  dry  weather  the  more  we 
stir  and  cultivate  the  soil  the  better  the  crop  will  grow. 

The  previous  history  of  the  piece  of  ground  should  always 
enter  into  our  choice  of  location.  An  interval  of  two  or  three 
years  should,  if  possible,  elapse  between  successive  plantings, 
and  such  a rotation  as  will  admit  of  this  is  desirable.  We 
should  recall,  also,  our  success  with  the  previous  crop,  which, 
if  attacked  by  any  disease  liable  to  be  perpetuated  in  the  soil, 
will  render  planting  for  several  years  unprofitable. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


FERTILIZERS. 

Soil  fertility  is  now  one  of  the  most  important  questions 
with  which  we  have  to  deal.  This  is  particularly  true  in 
regard  to  the  lands  of  the  Atlantic  States,  where  the  fertility 
of  the  soil  has  been  depreciated  by  failure  to  restore  the  plant 
food  taken  from  the  land  in  crops.  These  methods  are 
extending  further  and  further  to  the  west,  and  the  same 
impoverishing  influence  is  at  work  upon  the  newly  cultivated 
lands  but  recently  brought  under  the  plow. 

It  is  fortunate  for  the  agriculturist  that  the  study  and 
research  of  scientific  men  have  made  more  real  practical  pro- 
gress in  this  direction  than  in  most  lines  where  science  has 
been  applied  to  agriculture.  Farmers  and  gardeners  have, 
as  a rule,  been  slow  to  believe  in  those  elements  of  fertility 
which  the  chemist  told  them  contained  all  the  needed  plant- 
food  for  a given  crop.  They  sneered  at  the  chemist’s  analysis 
and  shook  their  heads  doubtfully  at  the  scientist’s  conclusion. 
The  supplies  furnished  by  the  barnyard  were  exhausted  and 
the  balance  of  the  farm  planted  on  faith;  but  faith  didn’t 
work;  gradually  the  farm  grew  poorer  and  the  farmer’s  con- 
dition reflected  that  of  his  farm.  Finally,  although  the  les- 
son has  cost  him  much,  he  has  learned  that  the  scientist  was 
right,  that  the  three  elements  of  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid, 
and  potash  were  what  was  needed  to  make  the  crop  grow,  and 
that  these  three  elements  were  found  in  various  substances  and 
in  various  forms,  and  obtainable  in  the  open  markets. 

This  being  conceded,  the  question,  therefore,  at  this  time 

26 


FERTILIZERS. 


27 


is  pretty  well  narrowed  down  to  a consideration  of  the  proper 
proportions  of  each  of  these  elements  which  our  crops  require, 
and  the  same  consideration  of  cost  which  enters  into  all  our 
business  transactions. 

Both  cabbage  and  cauliflower  crops  are  gross  feeders ; to 
plant  them  on  poor  land  poorly  manured  is  to  invite  failure. 
Every  authority  on  the  fertilizing  material  required  by  such 
plants  agrees  in  this,  that  an  unusual  amount  of  nitrogen  is 
necessary  to  secure  the  most  perfect  development  of  the  plant. 
This  is,  without  doubt,  supplied  by  horse  manure,  but  we  are 
now  considering  other  forms  of  fertilizing  material — in  fact, 
the  instances  where  farms  or  gardens  are  so  situated  as  to  be 
able  to  obtain  a supply  of  horse  manure  at  a reasonable  cost 
are  becoming  so  rare,  that  the  fertilizer  question  as  applied 
to  the  chemical  or  commercial  fertilizers  is  much  the  more 
important  one. 

First,  of  all,  we  should  be  sure  that  we  secure  a sufficient 
amount  of  nitrogen.  This,  if  in  the  form  of  ammonia,  should 
never  be  less  than  six  per  cent,  of  the  whole,  and  it  is  rarely 
that  a fertilizer  is  made  which  contains  more  than  six  per 
cent.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  from  five  to  six  per  cent, 
of  nitrogen  is  about  the  proper  proportion,  and  to  our  mind 
it  is  equally  important  that  a portion  of  this  nitrogen  be 
derived  from  animal  matter,  while  the  balance  be  obtained 
from  some  chemical  source.  The  growth  which  follows  an 
application  of  some  of  our  high-grade  agricultural  chemicals, 
such  as  nitrate  of  soda  or  sulphate  of  ammonia,  is  always  very 
strong  and  vigorous ; but  we  have  secured  the  most  satisfactory 
results  when  the  quick  action  of  these  materials  is  supplemented 
by  the  slower  but  more  lasting  influence  of  such  materials  as 
dried  blood,  fish  scrap,  tankage,  or  some  of  the  prepared  forms 
of  animal  matter  which  any  fertilizer  dealer  is  glad  to  sell  you. 

Phosphoric  acid,  which  is  usually  secured  from  ground  or 
dissolved  bone,  bone-black,  or  the  so-called  “Rock”  phos- 


2 8 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


phates  of  the  South,  should  be  supplied  to  the  extent  of  from 
six  to  eight  per  cent.  Of  the  forms  of  phosphoric  acid  which 
have  come  under  our  observation,  we  think  the  best  source 
from  which  it  can  be  obtained  is  some  form  of  raw  bone, 
which  also  contains  a small  percentage  of  nitrogen.  As 
between  the  bone-black — or  the  bone  which  has  been  burned 
in  the  process  of  sugar  refining  and  then  treated  with  acid — 
and  the  rock  phosphates,  we  have  been  unable  to  detect  any 
practical  difference.  Bone-black,  in  most  markets,  will  usually 
cost  about  20  cents  per  unit  of  phosphoric  acid  more  than  the 
rock  phosphates,  and  therefore  a fertilizer  containing  seven 
per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid  would  cost  $1.40  more  per  ton  if 
that  phosphoric  acid  were  derived  from  bone-black  than  if  we 
secured  the  same  percentage  from  South  Carolina  rock.  The 
wisdom  of  this  increased  expenditure  is  extremely  doubtful — 
in  fact,  so  far  as  experiment  or  practical  experience  has  ever 
shown,  one  article  has  no  advantage  over  the  other.  I am 
fully  aware  that  there  has  always  existed  a prejudice  against 
the  rock  phosphate  in  the  minds  of  many  farmers  and  gar- 
deners, and  this  prejudice  is,  without  doubt,  fostered  by  the 
bone-black  dealer,  and  probably  has  as  much  to  do  with  that 
increased  cost  of  20  cents  per  unit  as  any  consideration  of 
actual  value.  We  regard  this  prejudice  as  due  mainly  to 
ignorance  of  the  actual  composition  of  the  rock  phosphates 
and  a feeling  on  the  part  of  some  purchasers  that  in  buying 
them  they  are  merely  buying  stone.  To  our  mind  the  best 
material  from  which  to  secure  phosphoric  acid  in  a fertilizer 
is  raw  bone  ground  finely  or  dissolved  in  sulphuric  acid  to 
render  it  the  more  available,  provided  it  can  be  obtained  at 
a reasonable  cost ; but  if  the  purchase  of  this  material 
increases  the  cost  of  our  fertilizer  to  any  very  considerable 
degree,  we  should  use  the  rock  phosphate  for  our  phosphoric 
acid  rather  than  pay  the  increased  cost  of  bone-black. 

Potash  must  of  necessity  be  supplied  from  high-grade 


FERTILIZERS. 


29 


muriate  or  sulphate,  as  in  none  of  the  low  grades  of  potash 
salts  can  we  secure  the  required  percentage  of  actual  potash 
in  a fertilizer  which  must  also  contain  five  to  six  per  cent,  of 
nitrogen  and  six  to  eight  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid.  The 
percentage  of  actual  potash  required  to  grow  a crop  of  cab- 
bage is  not  fixed  with  the  same  degree  of  certainty  which  we  feel 
in  regard  to  the  other  ingredients  composing  a high-grade 
fertilizer.  We  feel  sure  that  less  than  two  per  cent,  is  almost 
useless  in  any  fertilizer,  and  the  quantity  fixed  for  a cabbage 
fertilizer  of  high  grade  is  usually  from  seven  to  ten  per  cent. 
We  believe  that  the  first  figure  is  sufficient  and  represents  as 
large  an  amount  of  actual  potash  as  the  crop  can  use  to  ad- 
vantage. 

Our  conclusions  are,  then,  that  a complete  high-grade  fertil- 
izer, capable  of  growing  and  fully  maturing  the  most  profit- 
able crops  of  cabbage  or  cauliflower,  should  be  made  up,  as 
near  as  possible,  as  follows  : — 


Seven  to  nine  per  cent,  of  r To  be  derived  from  sulphate 
actual  potash.  \ or  muriate  of  potash,  or  both. 

The  goods  at  the  present  day  being  sold  almost  entirely 
under  a guaranteed  analysis,  it  is  comparatively  easy  for  any 
one  to  figure  out  a formula  suited  to  his  purpose.  For  in- 
stance, we  can  secure  2 per  cent,  of  nitrogen  from  sulphate 
of, ammonia  analyzing  20.50  per  cent,  by  the  use  of  250 
pounds  per  ton  ; 2x/2  per  cent,  from  animal  matter  containing 


Five  to  six  per  cent,  nitrogen. 


' 2*^  per  cent,  to  be  derived  from 
sulphate  of  ammonia  or  ni- 
trate of  soda. 


2l/2.  per  cent,  from  dried  blood, 
fish  scraps,  or  some  other 
form  of  animal  matter. 


To  be  derived  from  dissolved 
bone,  bone-black,  or  rock 
phosphate. 


30 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


ten  per  cent,  nitrogen  we  can  secure  from  500  pounds  of 
ground  fish  scrap,  which  would  give  us  also  about  1 per 
cent,  of  the  required  quantity  of  phosphoric  acid.  From  five 
to  six  per  cent,  more  can  be  obtained  by  the  use  of  about  850 
pounds  of  dissolved  South  Carolina  phosphate,  while  the  re- 
quired potash  can  be  found  in  200  pounds  of  80  per  cent, 
muriate  and  200  pounds  of  80  per  cent,  sulphate  of  potash, 
thus  making  the  2000  pounds  and  analyzing  as  above  stated. 

This  example  is  not  given  with  the  idea  that  it  should  in  all 
cases  be  followed.  The  important  point  is  this : that  every 
one  should  understand  the  comparative  value  and  the  practi- 
cal fertilizing  value  of  the  various  materials ; then  his  own 
position  and  the  facilities  for  securing  certain  ingredients 
must  have  its  influence  on  his  purchases. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  we  should  enter  extensively  into  the 
question  of  cost  here.  Almost  all  such  goods  are  now  re- 
quired by  law  to  be  sold  under  a stated  chemical  analysis, 
which  the  dealer  must  guarantee.  Such  a fertilizer  as  that 
of  which  we  have  spoken  would  be  known  among  dealers  as 
a high-grade  complete  fertilizer,  and  should  cost  the  farmer 
from  $33  to  $35  per  ton,  according  to  his  position  and  facili- 
ties for  securing  such  goods.*  But,  while  we  do  not  intend 
to  enter  into  the  cost  of  the  various  items  in  detail,  there  are 
certain  elements  of  cost  to  which  we  shall  call  your  attention, 
because  of  a prevailing  tendency  on  the  part  of  all  cultivators 
of  the  soil  to  consider  the  lowest  priced  article  the  cheapest. 

There  is  the  cost  of  transportation.  It  matters  not  whether 
the  goods  are  delivered  at  vour  station,  freight  prepaid,  or 
otherwise,  the  cost  of  transportation  is  certainly  and  in  all 
cases  taken  from  the  consumer,  and  if  it  be  $2  per  ton  on 
fertilizers  having  a manurial  value  of  $20  per  ton  it  is  no 
greater  on  fertilizers  having  a manurial  value  of  $40  per  ton. 


* See  note  on  Commercial  Fertilizers  at  end  of  chapter. 


FERTILIZERS. 


31 


The  percentage  which  the  cost  of  transportation  bears  to  the 
actual  value  of  the  goods  would  therefore  be  double  on  the 
low  grade  to  that  on  the  high  grade.  This  is  equally  true  in 
regard  to  various  other  items  of  expense  which  the  purchaser 
is  compelled  to  pay,  but  which  add  nothing  to  the  actual  value 
of  the  goods.  Bags  cost  as  much  per  ton  on  low-grade  as  on 
high-grade  goods ; the  cost  of  manufacture  does  not  materi- 
ally differ ; the  cost  of  handling  is  the  same,  and  a dealer’s 
profits,  while  they  may  not  amount  to  quite  as  much  per  ton, 
bear  the  highest  percentage  on  the  lowest-priced  articles.  A 
little  reflection  will  convince  any  one  of  these  facts,  and  they 
are  well  worthy  of  your  consideration.  The  question  you  are 
to  decide  is  not  how  much  stuff  you  can  buy  for  a given 
sum,  but  how  you  can  invest  that  sum  to  secure  the  greatest 
possible  return. 

Another  thought  comes  to  our  mind  just  here,  and,  while 
we  may  digress  somewhat  from  our  subject  in  giving  expres- 
sion to  it,  we  feel  that  its  importance  warrants  the  digres- 
sion. Wherever  we  go  among  the  cultivators  of  the  soil  we 
find  a credit  system  in  practice,  which  is  a sad  reflection  on 
the  intelligence  and  business  capacity  of  our  agriculturists. 
With  money  nominally  at  six  per  cent.,  in  some  sections  per- 
haps at  seven  per  cent.,  the  agriculturist  class  usually  pay 
from  io  to  15  per  cent,  for  their  accommodations.  But  the 
farmer  will  say,  “I  haven’t  the  money  to  pay  in  advance, 
but  must  wait  till  the  crop  comes  in.”  Neither  has  the 
dealer  the  money.  He  can  secure  it  at  the  legal  rate  and  is 
willing  to  advance  it  to  you  in  the  shape  of  supplies  at 
double  the  rate,  plus  a profit  on  the  supplies.  The  influence 
of  such  a credit  system,  which  is  in  common  practice  in 
many  sections,  is  wholly  bad  and  much  to  the  disadvantage  of 
’the  producer.  If  he  enters  into  an  agreement  with  a party  to 
secure  his  supplies  from  him  and  pay  for  them  with  his  pro- 
duce he  can  but  expect  to  pay  to  the  handler  three  profits : 


32 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


first,  a profit  on  the  supplies  purchased  ; second,  a profit  on 
the  credit  secured,  and,  third,  a profit  on  the  sale  of  his  pro- 
duce. Both  the  profit  on  the  purchase  of  supplies  and  on  the 
sale  of  the  produce  are  perfectly  legitimate  and,  of  course,  to 
be  expected,  but  the  profit  on  the  credit  can  hardly  be  con- 
sidered so,  and  yet,  in  some  shape,  it  is  probably  paid  by 
three-fourths  of  our  agricultural  people.  The  influence  of  the 
system  tends  to  loose  business  methods  on  their  part,  and  in 
many  instances  really  places  the  management  of  their  finan- 
cial affairs  in  the  hands  of  third  parties. 

In  some  instances  it  is  true  that  it  may  be  to  our  advan- 
tage to  buy  from  and  sell  to  the  same  parties, — such  is  the  case 
wherever  we  can  secure  a narrowing  of  margins  by  so  doing, — 
but  mortgaging  our  crops  or  agreeing  to  deliver  them  to  cer- 
tain parties  at  any  cost  in  payment  of  advances  cannot  fail 
to  have  a tendency  to  destroy  our  independence  and  debar  us 
from  securing  the  benefits  of  that  competition  which  alone 
can  secure  us  justice  in  the  open  market. 


Note  on  Commercial  Fertilizers. — The  present  high  price  of 
sulphate  of  ammonia,  due  to  the  decline  in  production  and  increased 
consumption  in  the  manufacture  of  artificial  ice,  has  practically  placed  this 
salt,  at  least  for  a time,  beyond  the  reach  of  farmers. 

There  have  been  other  sources  of  nitrogen,  such  as  dried  blood,  fine 
ground  dried  meat,  fish,  etc.,  which  could  be  bought  much  cheaper.  By 
using  some  such  animal  matter  in  connection  with  nitrate  of  soda  a very 
considerable  saving  has  been  possible. 

Experience  shows  that  crops  requiring  a moderately  long  season  to  com- 
plete their  development  thrive  best  when  nitrogen  is  supplied  in  a variety 
of  forms  varying  in  solubility  and  availability.  Theoretically,  a complete, 
well-balanced  fertilizer  for  cabbage,  or,  in  fact,  any  crop  requiring  a consid- 
erable part  of  the  season  to  complete  its  growth,  should  contain  nitrogen 
in  the  three  forms  of  nitric  acid,  ammonia,  and  organic  nitrogen.  And  in 
practice  we  find  this  to  be  true.  Nitric  acid  or  its  compounds  are  very 
soluble  in  soil  water  and  are  not  only  at  once  available  for  the  young 
plants,  but  are  liable  to  be  washed  away  in  case  of  prolonged  periods  of 


FERTILIZERS. 


33 


rain.  Ammonia  salts  and  organic  nitrogen  are  less  soluble  and,  being  more 
slowly  and  regularly  made  available  for  the  crop,  keep  it  supplied  with 
nitrogenous  food  until  maturity. 

If,  by  reason  of  scarcity  or  high  price,  we  cannot  so  balance  our  fertil- 
izer as  to  use  each  of  these  three  forms  of  nitrogen,  we  may  generally 
dispense  with  one  or  substitute  some  form  of  organic  nitrogen  in  its  place. 
Suppose  we  want  a mixture  with  the  same  content  of  nitrogen,  phos- 
phoric acid,  and  potash  as  given  in  the  formula  on  page  29,  but  we  wish 
to  substitute  for  the  expensive  sulphate  of  ammonia  some  fertilizer  stock 
that  will  supply  the  required  nitrogen  in  desirable  form  : — 

We  find  that  nitrogen  in  dried  fish,  dried  blood,  meat  scrap,  etc. , can 
be  bought  at  a difference  that  warrants  us  in  making  the  change. 

Dried  ground  meat  contains  from  10.50  to  11.50  per  cent,  of  nitrogen, 
and  about  three  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid. 

We  want — 

2^  per  cent,  nitrogen  from  dried  meat  = 50  lbs. 

2^  per  cent,  nitrogen  from  nitrate  of  soda  = 50  lbs. 

Our  ground  meat  contains  11.25  per  cent,  nitrogen. 

To  obtain  the  requisite  number  of  pounds  of  nitrogen,  we  must,  there- 
fore, take  as  many  hundred  pounds  of  dried  meat  as  11.25  is  contained  in 
50,  and  as  many  hundred  pounds  of  nitrate  of  soda  as  15.75  1S  contained 
in  50,  or  we  have — 

1.  50  -4-  o.  1125  = 444  lbs.  of  meat  scrap. 

2.  50-f-o.  1575  = 316  lbs.  of  nitrate  soda. 

Instead  of  taking  phosphoric  acid  from  the  more  expensive  bone-black, 
we  will  use  dissolved  S.  C.  Rock,  which  contains  say  12  per  cent,  of 
available  phosphoric  acid,  of  which  we  want  5 per  cent.,  or  100  lbs. 

100  -4-  0.12  = 833  lbs.  of  dissolved  S.  C.  Rock. 

Our  potash  (nine  per  cent.,  or  1 80  lbs.)  is  taken  from  80  per  cent, 
muriate,  which  contains  50.51  per  cent,  of  actual  potash — 

180  -4-  0.5051  =356  lbs.  of  potash. 

We  now  know  what  quantities  of  materials  are  needed  to  furnish  the 
requisite  percentages  of  fertilizing  constituents,  but  on  adding  the  quanti- 
ties together,  find  the  total  sum  to  be  i960  pounds.  We  may  add  40 
pounds  of  land  plaster  or  dissolved  S.  C.  Rock,  or  slightly  alter  the 
3 


34 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


weights  without  materially  changing  the  relations  of  fertilizing  constituents. 
Suppose  we  make  our  formula  to  stand  thus  : — 

Nitrate  of  Soda, 320  lbs. 

Ground  Meat, 450  “ 

Dissolved  S.  C.  Rock, 870  “ 

Muriate  of  Potash, 360  “ 

2000  “ 


We  now  have  the  requisite  number  of  pounds  ; let  us  see  how  the 
composition  of  our  mixture  stands  : — 


Pounds. 

Material. 

Nitrogen. 

Phosphoric  . 

Acid. 

Potash. 

Avail- 

able. 

Insolu- 

ble. 

Total. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

320 

Nitrate  Soda  (15.75  per  cent. 

N.). 

50.40 

45° 

Fine  Dry  Ground  Meat. 

50.62 

1543 

870 

Dissolved  S.  C.  Rock. 

104.40 

27.84 

132.24 

360 

Muriate  Potash  (80  per  cent.). 

181.83 

2000 

Total  quantities  in  one  ton. 

101.02 

104.40 

147.67 

181.83 

Per  cent. 

5-05 

5.22 

7.38 

9.09 

The  above  tabulation  is  by  no  means  the  complicated  affair  that  it  may 
seem  to  be  at  first  sight ; the  farmer  can  very  readily  verify  the  several 
calculations  with  no  more  knowledge  of  mathematics  than  is  required  in 
disposing  of  his  crops,  thus : We  have  320  lbs.  of  nitrate  of  soda,  in  each 
100  lbs.  of  which  there  are  15.75  lbs.  of  nitrogen.  Therefore,  * 

3.20  X 15.75  = 50.40  lbs.  of  nitrogen. 

The  ground  meat  contains  1 1. 25  per  cent,  of  nitrogen,  and  3.43  per 
cent,  of  phosphoric  acid. 

4.50  X 11.25  = 50.60  lbs.  of  nitrogen,  and 
4.50  X 3*43  = 15  43  lbs.  of  phosphoric  acid. 

The  S.  C.  Rock  contains  12  per  cent,  of  available  and  3.20  per  cent, 
of  insoluble  phosphoric  acid. 

8.70  X 12  = 104.40  lbs.  available  phosphoric  acid. 

8.70  X 3-20  = 27^4  lbs.  of  insoluble  phosphoric  acid. 


FERTILIZERS.  35 

In  the  360  pounds  of  80  per  cent,  muriate  we  have  3.60  X 50.51  = 
181.83  lbs.  of  actual  potash. 

Then  add  up  the  several  columns,  divide  by  20,  which  is  the  number 
of  hundred  pounds  in  one  ton,  and  the  quotient  will  be  the  per  cent,  of 
each  fertilizing  constituent.  Thus,  the  nitrogen  column  will  add  up 
101.02  lbs.  Divided  by  20,  it  gives  5.05. 

(101.02  -r-  20  = 5.05  percent,  nitrogen.) 

The  percentages  of  available  and  total  phosphoric  acid  and  of  potash 
are  found  in  the  same  way. 

In  this  formula  we  have  used  dissolved  S.  C.  Rock,  because  it  is 
usually  the  cheapest  form  in  which  to  buy  soluble  phosphates. 

The  difference  between  the  cost  of  phosphoric  acid  derived  from  dis- 
solved bone  and  bone-black  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  .dissolved  rock 
phosphate  on  the  other,  has  never  been  warranted  in  comparative  trials 
by  us. 

In  the  foregoing  mixture  we  might  have  taken  phosphoric  acid  from 
870  lbs.  dissolved  bone  meal,  which  would  have  given  the  formula  6. 1 8 
per  cent,  of  nitrogen  and  8.43  per  cent,  of  total  phosphoric  acid,  or  we 
might  have  divided  the  phosphoric  acid  between  dissolved  bone  and  rock 
phosphate,  in  which  case  the  content  of  nitrogen  and  of  phosphoric  acid 
would  have  been  slightly  increased  over  that  of  the  first  mixture. — Pub- 
lishers. 


CHAPTER  V. 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 

It  is  perfectly  fair  to  assume  that  the  nearest  neighbor  to 
every  tiller  of  the  soil  is  either  a bug,  a worm,  or  a louse,  who 
is  trying  for  dear  life  to  eat  him  out  of  house  and  home. 

It  is  with  anything  but  a feeling  of  confidence  that  we 
approach  this  subject,  for  the  insect  enemies  of  the  particular 
plants  which  we  have  under  consideration,  at  the  present  time, 
have  the  best  of  the  battle.  The  most  prominent  which  we 
have  to  contend  with  are  the  Flea  Beetle,  which  must  be 
fought  as  soon  as  the  germ  appears  above  ground,  the  Green 
Cabbage  Worm,  the  Cabbage  Aphis  (those  villainous  little 
blue  lice  which  destroy  whole  fields  and  completely  change 
the  character  of  the  plant),  and  the  Cabbage  Maggot,  which 
works  at  the  root  or  stem  of  the  plant  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  In  other  parts  of  the  country  the  Cabbage  Plusia, 
Cabbage  Mamestra,  Zebra  Caterpillar,  and  Harlequin  Cab- 
bage-bug are  common  and  quite  destructive. 

The  Wavy-striped  Fie  a- Beetle  ( Phyllotreta  vittata ) 
is  comparatively  easy  to  dispose  of,  as  its  attacks  are  serious 
only  to  the  plants  in  their  earliest  stages  of  growth.  With  us 
nothing  is  so  effective  as  tobacco  dust,  which  is  always  liber- 
ally sprinkled  over  the  plants  as  soon  as  they  are  seen  breaking 
through  the  ground.  If  the  work  is  not  neglected  at  this 
time,  it  is  comparatively  easy  to  get  the  best  of  the  fleas,  and 
as  the  plants  become  stronger  they  are  largely  able  to  resist 
these  attacks  themselves,  but  for  the  first  ten  days  of  their 
existence  they  must  have  constant  attention,  the  secret  of 

36 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


37 


success  being,  in  this  instance,  for  the  grower  to  be  on  the 
ground  before  the  beetle.  It  is  best  to  do  the  work  early 
in  the  morning  when  the  plants  are  wet  with  dew,  but  if  the 
fleas  are  thick  the  work  should  never  be  delayed  until  a favor- 
able time.  After  this  an  occasional  dusting  will  keep  them  free. 

The  Green  Cabbage  Worms  have  not  been  so  troublesome 
i n cabbage-growing  sections  for  the  last  few  years  as  formerly. 
Their  attacks  are  serious  when  they  are  very  numerous  at  the 
time  of  transplanting.  At  this  stage,  when  the  plants  are 
just  recovering  from  the  shock  of  being  torn  from  the  seed- 


Fig.  12. — Imported  Cabbage  Worm.  a.  Larva,  b.  Chrysalis,  c.  Male  butterfly. 

(Riley.) 


bed,  and  growth  is  necessarily  slow,  these  worms  will  some- 
times eat  the  leaves  fast  enough  to  destroy  the  plant.  The 
life  of  the  worm  appears  to  be  a short  one,  however,  and  if 
they  do  not  appear  until  the  plant  has  secured  a good  root- 
hold,  the  danger  is  not,  as  a rule,  serious. 

We  have  both  a native  and  European  species  which  attack 
cabbage  and  cauliflower.  The  butterflies  are  much  alike  in 
appearance,  the  wings  are  generally  white  or  yellowish  with 
indefinite  black  marks  above  and  with  yellow  or  green  mark- 
ings on  the  underside.  The  worms  differ  in  color,  the  im- 


38 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


ported  species  being  green  while  our  native  one  is  pale  blue 
with  yellow  stripes.  The  young  caterpillars  of  the  im- 
ported cabbage  worms  are  pale  yellow,  but  as  they  grow  older, 
change  to  green  with  a faint  yellow  line  down  the  back  and 
a row  of  yellow  spots  on  each  side.  The  full-grown  cater- 
pillars are  from  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a quarter  long. 


of  combating  them  is  with  poison,  and  find  that  Paris  Green 
will  kill  them  as  effectually  as  it  will  'the  Colorado  Potato 
Beetle,  and  if  applied  intelligently  it  can  be  used  with  perfect 
safety.  When  the  plants  are  just  beginning  to  grow  in  the 
field  after  transplanting,  these  worms  may  sometimes  be  found 
very  numerous  about  the  center  of  the  plant,  seeming  to 
prefer  the  young  and  tender  leaves  as  they  are  developed 
from  the  center  of  the  plant.  At  this  stage  of  growth  Paris 
Green  can  be  used  without  danger  of  poisoning  the  cabbage 
head,  because  these  leaves  do  not  form  a part  of  the  future 
head,  and  even  if  the  poison  were  not  washed  to  the  ground 
by  subsequent  rains,  as  it  undoubtedly  would  be,  the  devel- 
opment of  the  plant,  coming  from  the  center,  these  leaves 
soon  become  the  outer  leaves  of  the  plant  and  are  finally 
dropped  to  the  ground  as  the  plant  approaches  maturity. 

We  cannot,  of  course,  use  poison  of  any  kind  upon  the 
fully  matured  heads  which  we  are  to  send  to  market  (and 
should  not  use  it  even  when  the  plant  is  . half  grown),  but 
later  attacks  of  the  worms,  when  the  plant  is  growing  vigor- 


The  adult  butterfly 
emerges  in  the  spring 
and  lays  eggs  from  which 
the  first  generation  of 
worms  is  produced. 
S everal  broods  develop 
during  the  season. 


Fig.  13. — Female.  {Riley.) 


Remedies. — We  think 
the  only  successful  means 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


39 


ously,  are  not  much  to  be  feared ; they  may  eat  the  leaves 
to  some  extent,  but  growth  is  now  so  rapid  and  strong  that 
the  actual  damage  is  usually  slight. 

Pyrethruip  powder  and  buhach,  kerosene  emulsion,  or  hot 
water  may  be  used.  Dr.  Riley  gives  preference  to  hot  water 
at  a temperature  of  130°  Fahr.  The  water  may  be  boiling 
hot  when  put  into  the  watering  can,  but  it  will  not  be  too  hot 
when  it  reaches  the  cabbage-leaves.  This  treatment  is  prac- 
ticable in  the  small  garden  only.  One  ounce  of  pyrethrum 
stirred  into  one  gallon  of  boiling  water  and  when  cool  diluted 


Fig.  14.— Cabbage  Aphis.  Male,  magnified.  ( Weed.) 


to  three  or  four  gallons  with  cold  water,  makes  an  effective 
insecticide  for  these  worms. 

Professor  James  Fletcher  suggests  pyrethrum  diluted  with 
four  times  its  weight  of  common  flour.  This  mixture  should 
be  kept  tightly  closed  in  a bottle  or  tin  can  for  twenty-four 
hours  before  dusting  on  plants. 

The  Cabbage  Aphis  (. Aphis  brassicce). — This  is  one 
of  the  most  troublesome  insect  enemies  which  the  grower  of 
late  cabbage  has  to  encounter.  They  do  not  appear  until 
warm  weather,  and  the  early  crop  is  well  advanced  before  they 
become  very  troublesome.  Throughout  the  summer  and  early 


40 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


fall  this  pest  is  frequently  very  abundant,  and  we  occasionally 
see  whole  fields  destroyed,  while  damage  to  the  extent  of  one- 
half  or  two-thirds  of  the  crop  is  frequently  sustained.  These 
insects  have  a peculiar  way  of  congregating  on  certain  plants 
and  leaving  others  in  the  same  field  entirely  unmolested.  It 
is  not  unusual  in  badly  infested  fields  to  see  two  or  three 
plants  entirely  destroyed,  while  the  next  one  to  them  may 
show  no  sign  of  damage  whatever.  The  first  frosts  and  the 
cold  fall  rains  usually  rid  the  plants  of  this  insect,  though 
some  of  them,  in  the  inner  folds  of  the  leaves,  which  afford 
them  protection,  may  be  found  until  quite  late  in  the  season. 
The  damage  caused  by  the  aphis  must  amount  to  thousands 
of  dollars  yearly,  and  it  has  been  the  subject  of  investigation 
at  our  various  experiment  stations  and  by  our  scientific  men. 
Its  history  and  a minute  description  of  it  may  be  found  in 
many  of  the  reports  of  our  entomologists  and  in  various  books 
upon  the  subject,  but  scientific  research  has,  as  yet,  failed  to 
place  in  the  hands  of  the  gardener  any  weapon  with  which  he 
can  go  into  the  fields  and  save  his  crop  when  it  is  badly  in- 
fested, at  a cost  in  time  and  labor  which  makes  it  worth  saving. 

In  our  experience  we  have  never  seen  the  plants  troubled 
with  these  insects  during  the  first  two  weeks  of  growth  from 
the  seed.  It  frequently  happens,  however,  that  at  the  time 
of  transplanting,  when  the  plants  are  about  five  weeks  old, 
the  lice ' become  very  abundant,  and  we  have  tried  with  suc^ 
cess  the  following  method,  which  we  have  never  seen  in  print, 
but  would  recommend  as  likely  to  completely  remove  the 
insects  for  the  time  being.  When  all  is  ready  to  set  out  the 
plants,  we  take  to  the  seed-bed  a tub  of  strong  tobacco  water, 
using  probably  one  pound  to  one  and  one-half  pounds  of 
tobacco  to  each  gallon  of  water,  and  as  the  plants  are  taken 
from  the  bed  each  handful  is  immersed  in  the  tub  of  tobacco 
water,  and  held  under  for  a moment  to  allow  the  water  to 
reach  every  portion  of  the  plant.  This  will  rid  the  plants 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


41 


entirely  of  lice  for  the  time  being,  and  will  not  injure  the 
plants  in  any  way. 

We  have  seen  a number  of  remedies  recommended  in  vari- 
ous writings  upon  the  subject.  Lime,  plaster,  and  pyrethrum 
powder  are  advised  for  dusting  the  plants ; soapsuds  or  kero- 
sene emulsion  for  spraying  (see  page  39). 

No  doubt  all  these  things  would  be  good  provided  we  could 
reach  the  insect  with  them  by  an  ordinary  application,  but  we 
have  found  great  difficulty  in  dusting  or  spraying  anything  over 
the  plants  in  the  field  which  would  prove  effectual,  because 
the  insects  are  so  completely  sheltered  by  the  leaves.  It  is 
the  habit  of  the  insect  to  congregate  in  great  numbers  on  the 
lower  part  of  the  inner  leaves  of  the  plant.  The  leaf  when 
so  attacked  does  not  grow  much  larger,  but  the  outer  edge 
curls  up,  largely  covering  the  insects  which  are  sapping  the 
life  out  of  it  and  affording  quite  effectual  protection  from 
dusting  or  spraying. 

When  completely  infested  the  plant  either  dies  outright  or 
its  character  changes,  from  the  fact  that  all  subsequent  growth 
appears  to  be  in  the  stalk,  which  continues  to  grow,  while  the 
leaves  show  no  further  development.  We  have  frequently 
seen  the  plants  grow  to  a height  of  eighteen  inches  from  the 
ground  apparently  from  no  other  cause  than  a severe  attack 
of  the  cabbage  aphis,  and  as  soon  as  it  assumes  this  form  it 
is  useless  to  the  gardener,  as,  even  if  the  aphis  could  be  en- 
tirely removed,  it  is  too  far  gone  to  produce  a good  head. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  spraying  might  be  employed  with 
good  results  if  the  work  could  be  done  just  at  the  proper 
moment,  when  the  plants  are  pretty  well  covered  with  the 
aphis,  but  before  the  leaves  have  begun  to  curl  up.  To  my 
miijd  the  kerosene  emulsion  is  most  likely  to  produce  the  best 
results. 

There  seems  to  be  quite  a difference  in  the  power  of  differ- 
ent varieties  to  withstand  the  attacks  of  the  aphis,  and  our 


42 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


observation  leads  us  to  these  conclusions,  which  may  be  of 
some  value  to  the  reader. 

The  red  cabbages  seem  most  sensitive  and  succumb  most 
easily;  the  Savoy  varieties  seem  to  be  least  troubled  with 
them;  the  Late  Flat  Dutch,  Drumhead,  and  similar  strong 
growing  varieties  seem  next  best  able  to  withstand  their  at- 
tacks ; the  intermediate  or  second  early  sorts  come  next  in 
point  of  ability  to  resist  attack,  while  the  very  early  sorts  are 
most  liable  to  be  seriously  injured,  of  all  green  varieties. 
These  conclusions  have  been  confirmed  by  the  observations 
of  a number  of  years  in  which  the  aphis  has  been  unusually 
abundant,  both  in  the  fields  and  among  the  trials  of  different 
varieties,  and  will,  we  think,  be  found  substantially  correct. 

The  Cabbage  Maggot  ( Anthomyia  brassicce)  is  without 
question  the  greatest  enemy  we  have  to  encounter  in  the 
growing  of  early  cabbage  and  cauliflower.  We  will  usually 
notice  on  bright,  sunny  days  during  the  early  part  of  May  a 
small  insect  in  size  between  a mosquito  and  common  house- 
fly. An  abundance  of  these  insects  is  a sure  indication  that 
we  shall  be  favored  with  plenty  of  maggots  later  on. 

The  egg  is  laid  at  that  point  where  the  stem  of  the  plant 
breaks  through  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  upon  hatching 
the  maggots  at  once  find  their  way  below  the  surface  and 
attack  the  roots  and  stalk  of  the  plant. 

The  first  effect  of  these  attacks  is  a loss  of  vitality,  which 
will  be  quickly  observed  from  their  loss  of  color  and  sickly 
appearance.  If  the  weather  be  dry,  the  damage  may  be  lim- 
ited to  the  loss  of  a small  number  of  plants  upon  which  the  mag- 
gots have  been  especially  numerous,  and  a somewhat  decreased 
product  from  the  balance  of  the  field,  but  if  we  have  wet 
weather  at  the  time  when  the  maggot  is  most  numerous,  their 
work  seems  to  induce  rotting  of  the  stem,  and  the  result  is 
likely  to  be  serious  loss. 

In  all  sections  where  the  growing  of  cabbages  has  assumed 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


43 


considerable  proportions  as  a business  or  extended  over  any 
considerable  period  of  time,  the  cabbage  maggots  are  likely  to 
prove  very  troublesome.  They  usually  appear  upon  the  young 
plants  about  the  middle  of  May,  the  time  of  their  first  appear- 
ance being  largely  regulated  by  the  condition  of  the  season, 
and  are  very  troublesome  during  the  latter  part  of  May  and 
through  almost  the  entire  month  of  June,  diminishing  in 
number  gradually  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  and 
finally  vanishing  altogether,  leaving  only  the  evidence  of  their 
work  behind  them. 

It  should  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  decaying  leaves 
left  around  the  trenches  where  our  cabbages  have  been  win- 
tered over,  and  all  refuse  of  a similar  character,  forms  an  excel- 
lent breeding  place  for  the  maggots.  It  is  important  that  all 
such  refuse  should  be  completely  destroyed  or  buried  by  the 
plow  entirely  out  of  sight  in  early  spring,  before  the 
appearance  of  the  fly.  Such  precaution  has  a tendency  to 
keep  the  farm  free  from  maggots,  and  alternating  the  crops, 
giving  as  wide  a berth  as  possible  to  all  fields  which  have  pre- 
viously been  infested,  is  the  best  means  of  securing  exemption 
from  the  ravages  of  the  pest. 

Lime,  plaster,  potash  salts,  etc.,  have  been  recommended 
by  various  writers  as  likely  to  prove  effective,  but  we  are  unable 
to  indorse  any  such  recommendation,  as  practical  experience 
has  demonstrated  the  uselessness  of  any  such  materials  for  the 
purpose.  It  may  be  possible  that  such  substances  would  kill 
the  maggot  if  we  could  use  them  in  sufficient  quantities,  but 
as  we  have  seen  the  maggots  thrive  wonderfully  on  ground 
where  potash  salts  was  used  in  such  quantities  as  to  kill  grass 
and  weeds,  we  think  the  cabbages  would  be  the  first  to 
succumb. 

After  experimenting  with  everything  which  has  given  the 
slightest  promise  of  relief,  we  have  settled  upon  two  methods 
which  have  proved  most  effectual  in  meeting  the  ravages  of 


44 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


this  insect.  A piece  of  tarred  paper  placed  around  the  stem 
of  the  young  plant  is  fairly  effective  in  preventing  the  maggots 
from  reaching  the  roots  of  the  plant,  and  unless  the  maggot  is 
unusually  abundant  may  be  relied  upon  to  save  the  crop. 

This  piece  of  paper  should  be  three  or  four  inches  in  dia- 
meter, cut  in  octagonal  shape,  with  a slit  in  one  side  to  the 
center  where  there  is  a slight  opening 
just  large  enough  to  fit  closely  around 
the  stem  of  the  plant,  as  shown  in  Fig. 
15.  Any  blacksmith  can  readily  make 
a sharp  instrument  of  steel  which  will 
cut  this  paper  in  the  desired  shape  with 
one  blow  from  the  hammer,  and  with 
such  an  instrument  these  papers  can 
be  prepared  very  rapidly  and  cheaply. 
Where  these  papers  are  to  be  applied, 
the  ground  after  the  usual  plowing  and  harrowing  should  be 
rolled  and  made  as  smooth  and  level  as  possible.  As  soon  as 
the  plants  recover  from  the  effects  of  transplanting,  the  papers 
should  be  applied  by  slipping  them  around  the  stem  of  each 
plant  and  pressing  them  closely  to  the  level  ground.  A work- 
man will  do  this  quite  rapidly  as  soon  as  he  becomes  accus- 
tomed to  the  work,  and  the  actual  expense  will  not  be  found 
as  great  as  may  at  first  appear.  The  work  must,  however,  be 
done  before  the  eggs  are  laid  upon  the  stem  or  it  is  useless,  as 
its  effectiveness  is  found  only  in  preventing  the  maggot  from 
reaching  the  root. 

The  maggots  in  the  ground  may  be  killed  by  the  applica- 
tion of  Bisulphide  of  Carbon.  Make  a small  hole  in  the 
ground  near  the  plant,  and  drop  about  a teaspoonful  of  the 
liquid  into  it,  covering  quickly  with  the  earth  to  the  depth  of 
about  two  inches  ; this  will  evaporate  quickly  through  the  soil, 
and  its  poisonous  vapor  will  kill  the  maggots  for  a space  of 
a few  inches  around  the  place  where  it  is  deposited;  but  the 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


45 


application  is  laborious  and  slow,  and  therefore  attended  with 
considerable  expense.  The  experience  of  each  reader  in  his 
own  locality  and  with  his  own  markets  can  alone  determine 
the  practical  value  of  this  remedy,  but  somewhat  extended 
experiments  conducted  on  Long  Island  the  past  summer, 
seem  to  show  it  the  best  means  of  killing  the  maggot  in  the 
ground. 

The  Cabbage  Borer. — Until  recently  the  ordinary  ob- 
server has  supposed  this  to  be  the  same  as  the  maggot,  as  to 
the  naked  eye  it  shows  no  great  difference  in  appearance,  but 
when  closely  examined  by  entomologists  this  has  been  shown 
to  be  the  larva  of  a beetle  quite  different  in  character.  The 
grub  first  appears  upon  the  lower  leaves  of  the  plant  and 
rapidly  bores  its  way  into  the  veins  of  the  leaf  and  stalk  of 
the  plant,  inducing  what  is  commonly  called  “stem  rot.” 
The  only  time  when  the  insect  can  be  successfully  killed  is  at 
that  brief  period  when  it  is  found  upon  the  outside  of  the 
leaf  at  its  juncture  with  the  stalk,  at  which  time  spraying 
with  Paris  green  will  be  found  reasonably  effectual.  Poisons 
must  not  be  applied,  of  course,  when  the  plants  are  heading, 
but  the  damage  from  borers  at  that  season  is  not  serious,  as 
the  plant  has  then  practically  attained  its  growth.  It  is  dur- 
ing the  earlier  period  of  its  life  that  the  damage  from  this  in- 
sect is  most  to  be  feared ; and  at  that  time  the  plant  should 
be  closely  watched  for  the  borers,  and  the  spraying  may  be 
done  with  perfect  safety. 

Red  Spider,  or  Thrip  ( Tetranychus  telarius ),  is  a little 
insect  but  little  larger  than  the  point  of  a pin,  which  is  fre- 
quently found  in  myriads  on  the  outer  leaves  of  the  young 
plant,  in  the  seed  bed  or  in  the  fields,  where  they  are  suck- 
ing its  life  out  in  a manner  somewhat  similar  to  the  Cabbage 
Aphis.  For  this,  as  for  the  Aphis,  we  can  recommend  spray- 
ing with  kerosene  emulsion  as  the  most  effectual  remedy. 

A kerosene  emulsion  is  made  by  dissolving  2^  pounds  of 


4 6 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


hard  soap  in  three  gallons  of  water,  which  should  be  heated 
until  the  soap  is  thoroughly  dissolved ; then  add  six  gallons 
of  kerosene  oil,  which  should  be  churned  thoroughly  together 
with  the  solution  of  soap,  and  will  then  have  about  the  con- 
sistency of  thick  cream.  For  use,  dilute  this  with  from  9 to 
15  parts  of  water,  according  to  the  strength  desired. 

The  Cabbage  Plusia  ( Plusia  brassictz). — The  parent 
insect  is  a handsome  night-flying  moth  of  a dark,  smoky-gray 
color,  with  a small,  silvery  white  spot  and  V-shaped  mark  near 


Fig.  16.— Cabbage  Plusia.  a.  Larva,  b.  Pupa  in  cocoon,  c.  Moth.  {Riley.) 

the  middle  of  each  front  wing.  The  eggs  are  deposited  singly 
or  in  clusters,  generally  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  leaves. 
The  larvae  soon  hatch  into  pale-green,  translucent  worms, 
marked  with  paler  longitudinal  stripes  on  the  sides  and  back. 
They  gnaw  irregular  holes  in  the  leaves  and  burrow  into  the 
heads  of  cabbage.  When  full-grown  the  caterpillars  are 
about  two  inches  long.  They  are  true  span-worms,  and  in 
traveling  the  body  assumes  the  looping  position  seen  in  Fig. 


16, 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


47 


The  full-grown  caterpillar  spins  a very  thin,  white,  or  semi- 
transparent cocoon,  generally  on  the  under  surface  of  the 
cabbage-leaf,  and  transforms  to  pupa,  shortly  afterward  emerg- 
ing as  the  adult  moth.  In  the  Southern  States  there  are  several 
broods  each  season. 

This  pest  is  destroyed  in  vast  numbers  by  toads  and  birds, 
and  the  larvae  are  subject  to  the  attacks  of  parasitic  insects ; 
it  is  also  the  victim  of  fungous  disease,  more  especially  in  wet 
seasons. 

Remedies. — The  worms  are  very  soft  and  tender  and  readily 
succumb  to  treatment  with  kerosene  emulsions.  Pyrethrum 
powder  also  kills  them.  It  is  most  effectual  used  alone  in 
powder  or  mixed  with  flour.  (See  Cabbage  Worm,  page  39.) 

The  Zebra  Caterpillar  (. Mamestra  picta). — In  the 
mature  stage  this  insect  is  a handsome  moth  with  rich  pur- 
plish-brown front  wings.  The  hind  legs  are  white,  and 
faintly  edged  with  brown  on  the  upper  and  outer  borders. 
The  body  is  grayish,  the  head  and  thorax  purple-brown. 

The  eggs  are  spherical  and  are  laid  in  clusters  on  the  cab- 
bage, cauliflower,  and  other  food  plants  early  in  summer. 
The  larvae  when  young  are  blackish,  soon  changing  to  light 
green.  The  young  worms  are  gregarious,  feeding  together 
near  the  places  where  the  eggs  were  clustered,  but  as  they 
grow  older  disperse  over  the  plants.  When  full-grown  the 
larvae  are  about  two  inches  long,  marked  by  broad,  longitudi- 
nal, velvety-black  stripes  on  the  back,  and  brilliant  yellow 
stripes  upon  each  side,  connected  by  fine,  transverse,  zebra- 
like lines,  as  seen  in  Fig.  17.  When  disturbed  the  worm  curls 
up  and  drops  to  the  ground. 

The  full-grown  caterpillar  forms  a rude  cocoon  of  silk  and 
earth  in  the  ground  and  changes  to  pupa,  emerging  a fort- 
night later  as  the  perfect  moth.  Two  broods  are  developed 
yearly,  the  second  hibernating  through  the  winter  and  emerg- 
ing as  moths  in  the  following  spring.  The  spring  brood  attacks 


48 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


cabbage,  cauliflower,  beets,  spinach,  etc.,  and  the  autumn 
brood  is  often  found  on  asters,  asparagus,  clover,  honeysuckle, 
and  mignonette. 

Remedies. — The  larvae  when  young  cluster  together  upon 
the  leaves  and  are  easily  disposed  of  by  hand-picking.  When 
the  caterpillars  have  scattered  over  the  plants  they  may  be 
destroyed  by  spraying  with  kerosene  emulsion,  with  decoction 
of  pyrethrum,  or  by  dusting  the  plants  with  the  powder  by 


Fig.  17.— Zebra  Caterpillar,  a.  Larva,  b.  Moth.  (Riley.) 


means  of  a powder  gun.  Spraying  with  hot  water  also  kills 
the  worms  without  injury  to  the  plants. 

The  Harlequin  Cabbage-Bug  ( Murgantia  histrio- 
nica ). — This  is  a tropical  species,  said  to  have  been  introduced 
from  Mexico  into  Texas,  from  which  State  it  has  spread  over 
the  South  and  as  far  north  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard  as 
Delaware.  It  increases  with  extreme  rapidity  and  is  now 
the  worst  insect  enemy  of  cruciferous  plants  in  the  Southern 
States.  This  insect  derives  its  name  from  the  gaudy  colors 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


49 


and  “harlequin-like  manner  in  which  the  black  and  orange- 
yellow  are  arranged  upon  the  body.”  In  the  Southern  States 
the  insects  live  through  the  winter  hidden  under  leaves  and 
rubbish. 

Dr.  G.  Lincecum,  writing  of  the  life  history  of  the  insect 
in  Texas,  says:  “The  perfect  insect  lives  through  the  win- 

ter, and  is  ready  to  deposit  its  eggs  as  early  as  the  15th  of 
March,  or  sooner,  if  it  finds  any  cruciform  plant  large  enough. 
They  set  their  eggs  on  end  in  two  rows,  cemented  together 
mostly  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaf,  and  generally  from  eleven 
to  twelve  in  number.  In  about  six  days  in  April  (four  days  in 
July)  there  hatch  out  from  these  eggs  a brood  of  larvae, 
resembling  the  perfect  insects,  except  in  having  no  wings. 
This  brood  immediately  begins  the  work  of  destruction  by 
piercing  and  sucking  the  life- 
sap  from  the  leaves,  and  in 
twelve  days  they  have  ma- 
tured. They  are  timid  and 
run  off  and  hide  behind  the 
first  leaf-stem,  or  any  part  of 
the  plant  that  will  answer  the 
purpose.  The  leaf  that  they 
puncture  soon  wilts.  * * * 

a cabbage  in  a day.” 

Remedies. — Infested  fields  should  have  clean  culture,  and  all 
rubbish  liable  to  furnish  a refuge  for  the  bugs  during  the 
winter  should  be  burned. 

Hand-picking  into  pans  or  cans  containing  water  or  kero- 
sene oil  is  resorted  to  in  the  South.  Pyrethrum  in  powder  or 
decoction  and  strong  kerosene  emulsion  may  prove  effectual 
when  the  bugs  are  young.  By  far  the  most  promising  method 
of  dealing  with  the  pest  is  that  of  Professor  H.  E.  Weed,  of 
the  Mississippi  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  Wild  mus- 
tard, when  young  and  tender,  is  preferred  by  the  bugs  even  to 
4 


Fig.  18.— Harlequin  Cabbage-Bug.  f. 
Adult,  g.  Adult  with  wings  extended. 
All  natural  size.  {Riley.) 


Half  a dozen  insects  will  kill 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


5° 


cabbage,  and  this  is  one  of  the  earliest  cruciferous  plants  to 
appear  in  spring.  In  1891  Professor  Weed  killed  the  bugs 

upon  the  mustard  plants 
with  pure  kerosene,  but 
in  1892  he  decided  to 
sow  mustard  between 
the  rows  to  be  planted 
in  cabbage.  The  ma- 
jority of  the  hibernat- 
ing bugs  clustered  upon 
the  early  mustard  plants 
and  were  killed  with  pure  kerosene;  the  cabbage  escaped 
almost  entirely  from  the  depredations  of  the  insects.  We 
recommend  this  course  to  cabbage  growers  wherever  the  pest 
is  troublesome.  Where  mustard  has  not  been  provided,  try 
spraying  with  a pretty  strong  pyrethro-kerosene  emulsion. 

To  make  pyrethro-kerosene  emulsion  take  of — 


Fig.  19. — Harlequin  Cabbage-Bug.  a, 
Nymphs,  c.  Eggs.  d.  Eggs,  side  view.  e. 
Eggs,  view  from  above,  d,  e.  Enlarged. 
{Riley.) 


Kerosene  oil, I gallon. 

Hard  soap, 1 pound. 

Pyrethrum  powder, 1 pound. 

Water,  I gallon. 


Dissolve  the  soap  as  directed  on  p.  45. 


When  the  soap  is  dissolved  add  the  pyrethrum  to  the  boil- 
ing solution,  stir  thoroughly  for  one  or  two  minutes,  and  allow 
the  materials  to  boil  for  about  three  minutes.  Remove  from 
the  fire,  add  the  kerosene,  and  churn  until  a thick  emulsion 
is  obtained.  By  this  method  a very  firm  pyrethro-kerosene 
emulsion  is  obtained,  which,  in  dilution,  works  admirably 
with  a force-pump  and  nozzle. 

The  Cabbage  Mamestra  (. Mamestra  trifolii'). — The 
moth  ranges  in  color  from  a pale  yellowish-gray  to  a dark 
brownish,  mottled  gray.  It  is  variable  in  size,  resembling 
the  Plusia  moth,  from  which  it  is  readily  distinguished  by  the 
absence  of  the  bright,  silvery  spot  on  the  front  wings.  The 


INSECT  ENEMIES. 


51 


caterpillars  vary  from  bright  green  to  a brownish-green  above, 
and  are  marked  by  a broad  pink  stripe  on  each  side.  Pupa- 
tion takes  place  in  an  oval  cavity  underground. 

Remedies. — Treatment  the  same  as  for  the  Cabbage  Plusia. 

Club  Root  ( Plasmodiophora  bras  sic  ce). — A chapter  on  in- 
sect enemies  is  not,  perhaps,  precisely  the  place  to  consider  a 
fungoid  disease  such  as  club  root,  but  it  is  no  part  of  my  pur- 
pose to  enter  into  an  elaborate  description  of  it,  and  I shall 
probably  have  no  better  opportunity  to  offer  a few  thoughts 
on  the  subject. 

Every  gardener  knows,  from  his  own  experience,  that  the 
continued  planting  of  all  plants  of  the  Brassica  family  upon 
the  same  piece  of  ground  renders  them  extremely  liable  to 
this  disease.  Sometimes  we  find  only  small  evidence  of  it  in 
the  enlargement  of  a few  of  the  small  roots  at  the  end  or  some 
distance  from  the  main  stalk;  in  this  event  it  does  not  affect 
the  growth  of  the  plant  for  that  season,  but  should  serve  as  a 
warning  to  us,  for  if  the  same  ground  be  again  planted  with 
a similar  crop  failure  will  probably  result.  Occasionally  we 
have  seen  the  first  evidence  of  it  in  the  seed-bed,  some  of  the 
roots  showing  enlargement,  and  have  found  that,  by  breaking 
off  the  enlarged  part  and  removing  the  plants  to  new  ground, 
they  have  suffered  no  damage.  The  theory  which  we  have 
heard  advanced,  at  times,  by  gardeners  who  seem  disposed  to 
lay  most  of  their  troubles  at  the  seedsman’s  door,  that  this 
disease  was  due  to  bad  seed,  was  disproved  to  our  own  satis- 
faction some  years  ago,  when  we  found  that  the  seed  from 
cabbages  badly  affected  when  planted  showed  no  signs  of  it  in 
their  product,  and  we  believe  it  impossible  that  such  a dis- 
ease should  be  perpetuated  in  the  seed  and  so  handed  down 
from  one  generation  to  another.  The  disease  is  evidently 
something  which  is  first  communicated  to  the  soil  from  the 
plant,  remains  in  the  soil,  and  by  it  is  communicated  to  the 
succeeding  crop.  We  have  noticed  that  in  fields  planted 


52 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


upon  slopes  with  intervening  hollows,  the  first  evidence  of 
club-root  was  to  be  found  in  the  low  places,  plants  in  such 
a position  sometimes  being  badly  affected,  while  those  upon 
the  higher  ground  were  entirely  free.  This  would  appear  to 
show  that  the  germs  of  this  disease  were  near  the  surface, 
and  were  washed  down  from  the  higher  ground  to  the  low 
places  by  the  winter  rains ; it  leads  also  to  the  conclusion 
that  if  the  stalk  and  outer  leaves  could  be  promptly  removed 
and  burned  as  soon  as  the  crop  is  harvested,  we  should  be 
much  less  liable  to  damage  from  this  disease,  although  the 
danger  might  not  be  entirely  obviated.  To  our  mind  it  is 
much  more  probable  that  the  germs  are  communicated  to  the 
soil  through  the  decaying  of  this  old  refuse  than  from  the 
plants  in  a growing  condition,  and  if  this  be  true  it  is  a great 
mistake  to  plow  it  under  or  allow  it  to  remain  on  the  surface, 
as  it  usually  does.  No  great  amount  of  labor  is  required  for 
its  removal,  and  the  advantage  of  having  the  land  entirely 
free  from  the  stumps  in  the  spring  will  almost  compensate  us 
for  the  extra  work. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  maggot,  alternating  the  crops  is  the 
best  means  of  avoiding  club-root.  When  the  land  has  become 
seriously  affected  an  interval  of  three  years  will  be  found 
necessary  before  these  crops  can  again  be  planted  there  with 
safety,  and  it  is  better  to  lay  the  land  down  to  grass  during  the 
interval.  If  only  slightly  affected,  so  that  we  find  but  slight 
traces  of  the  disease  in  the  last  crop,  a period  of  two  years 
will  usually  suffice. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


EARLY  CABBAGES. 

Cabbage,  to-day,  may  be  found  in  all  prominent  markets 
the  year  round.  The  fall  crop  of  the  Northern  gardener  has 
hardly  been  exhausted  when  our  cities  receive  the  first  ship- 
ments from  the  South,  where,  without  danger  from  frost  and 
cheap  labor  at  hand,  the  industry  of  growing  vegetables  is 
rapidly  developing.  This  leads  to  a cheapening  of  the  vege- 
tables to  the  consumer,  and  a shortening  of  the  season  in 
which  the  Northern  gardener  can  command  the  market ; and 
yet  each  section  has  its  turn.  From  the  extreme  southern 
limits  of  the  country  come  the  first  consignments,  and  while 
it  is  yet  winter,  they  drive  the  stock  carried  over  from  the  fall 
before  to  a second  place  in  the  market.  But  their  season  is  a 
short  one,  for  the  produce  of  the  next  port  to  the  north  soon 
comes  in  in  better  order  and  secures  the  first  choice.  • So  it  is 
that,  as  the  season  advances  up  the  Atlantic  coast,  each  section 
has  its  turn,  and  the  most  remunerative  returns  go  to  him  who 
is  first  in  his  own  particular  section. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  peculiar  climatic  influence  upon 
different  varieties,  which  we  see  illustrated  among  the  gar- 
deners’ fields  in  various  sections.  In  the  extreme  South  the 
popular  cabbage  seems  to  be  a late,  strong-growing  variety, 
because  in  a section  of  perpetual  growth  earliness  of  maturity 
does  not  enter  into  the  calculation,  and  the  vigorous  growth 
and  hardiness  of  the  Late  Flat  Dutch  and  Drumhead  sorts 
appear  best  able  to  withstand  the  intense  heat.  A little  far- 
ther north,  through  Northern  Florida  and  the  cabbage-growing 

53 


54 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


sections  of  Georgia,  we  find  the  intermediate  sorts  taking  the 
lead.  These  varieties  are  intermediate  both  in  season  of 
maturity  and  size,  and,  being  flat,  pack  to  better  advantage 
than  those  of  conical  shape,  such  as  the  earliest  sorts  assume; 
but  as  soon  as  we  reach  a line  where  frost  must  be  taken  into 
consideration,  the  earliest  sorts  in  existence  are  the  main  reli- 
ance for  an  early  crop. 

We  are  well  up  into  Virginia  before  we  see  much  winter 
protection  given  to  the  cabbage.  Without  doubt  the  system 
of  planting  in  the  fall  and  allowing  the  plants  to  stand  in  the 
field  during  the  winter  months  is  a good  one  wherever  the 
winters  are  mild  enough  to  insure  success  by  this  method.  We 
believe,  however,  that  this  system  is  practiced  a little  farther 
north  than  is  really  profitable,  and  in  many  instances  after  a 
rigorous  winter  the  plants  are  so  badly  winter  killed  that 
their  growth  is  much  retarded.  Without  doubt  the  cabbage 
plant  will  stand  a good  deal  of  frost,  but  continued  freezing 
and  thawing  is  very  injurious,  and  we  believe  the  cold-frame 
or  hot-bed  could  be  used  to  good  advantage  further  south  than 
we  usually  find  them. 

Throughout  the  North  and  Middle  States  the  early  crop 
is  grown  from  seed  sown  in  hot -beds  from  early  in  February 
to  the  middle  of  March,  according  to  the  location,  or  from 
seed  sown  usually  in  September  and  carried  through  the 
winter  in  cold-frames. 

We  think  that  directions  for  making  hot-beds  and  cold- 
frames  have  been  so  frequently  printed,  and  are  so  well 
understood  by  the  gardening  fraternity,  that  full  descriptions 
here  are  unnecessary.  A greenhouse  now  forms  part  of  the 
equipment  of  many  well  appointed  market  gardens,  and  en- 
ables the  gardener  to  grow  his  plants  at  any  time  to  suit  his 
own  convenience,  and  under  ideal  conditions,  as  between  a 
cold-frame  and  hot-bed.  If  we  were  planting  one  of  the 
extra  early  varieties,  as  Early  Jersey  Wakefield,  we  should 


EARLY  CABBAGES. 


55 


think  the  cold-frame  most  desirable,  as  we  find  that  hardier, 
better,  and  more  stocky  plants  can  be  secured  by  this  method. 
If  planting  one  of  the  second  early  varieties,  as  Early  Summer 
or  All  Head  Early,  however,  the  hot*bed  is  preferable,  since 
the  tendency  to  run  to  seed,  which  is  much  greater  in  the 
second  early  varieties,  is  enhanced  by  the  long  period  when 
the  plant  makes  little  or  no  growth  in  the  cold-frame.  (See 
Notes  on  Varieties.)  Earliness  being  the  first  consideration, 
they  should  be  transplanted  in  the  field  as  early  as  possible  in 
the  spring,  and  yet  it  is  important  to  secure  as  favorable  con- 
ditions of  weather  as  we  can.  A strong,  dry,  cold,  northwest 
wind  is  always  to  be  avoided — better  wait  a few  days  until 
the  wind  changes,  and  under  the  influence  of  the  soft,  moist 
air  from  the  south  or  east  our  plants  will  start  off  much  more 
rapidly.  The  field  should  be  selected  the  previous  fall  and 
turned  over  with  the  plow  just  before  cold  weather  sets  in. 
This  is  an  important  matter.  The  operation  of  frost  seems 
to  make  such  work  doubly  valuable,  as  we  are  enabled  to  work 
the  ground  earlier  in  the  spring,  and  it  works  up  in  much 
better  shape.  It  is  always  moist  enough  early  in  the  spring 
for  the  plant  to  live  provided  the  ground  be  properly  pre- 
pared. After  a thorough  plowing  and  harrowing  the  land 
should  be  marked  out  thirty  inches  one  way,  to  admit  of 
horse  cultivation,  and  eighteen  inches  in  the  row.  This  is  a 
sufficient  distance  to  secure  the  most  perfect  development  of 
the  earliest  varieties,  which  do  not  make  a large  outside 
growth  of  leaves.  If,  however,  the  intermediate  sorts  be 
planted,  the  distance  should  be  thirty-two  by  twenty  inches, 
on  account  of  their  increased  outside  growth. 

In  setting  the  plants  a good  deal  of  care  will  be  well  re- 
paid by  after  growth.  It  is  very  important  that  the  roots  of 
the  plant  should  not  be  turned  up  toward  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  The  workman  makes  a hole  with  a dibber  in  his 
right  hand,  thrusts  the  roots  of  the  plant,  which  he  holds  in 


56 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


his  left  hand,  into  it,  then  presses  the  dirt  firmly  against  the 
roots  with  the  dibber.  In  order  to  secure  the  best  results 
from  his  labor,  be  sure  the  tool  you  give  him  to  work  with 
is  such  that  he  can  be  expected  to  do  the  work  well.  The 
dibber  which  we  usually  see  for  sale  is  seldom  large  enough 
for  good  work ; it  should  be  about  one  and  three-quarter 
inches  in  diameter  at  the  widest  part  and  sharp  at  the  point, 
so  that  there  may  be  no  difficulty  in  making  the  hole  for  the 
plant  wide  enough  and  deep  enough  for  proper  setting. 

We  must  always  insist  on  the  dirt  being  firmly  pressed  to 
the  roots  of  the  plant.  A good  rule  to  make  with  the  work- 


man is  that  he  shall  so  fasten  the  roots  that  the  plant  cannot 
be  pulled  from  the  ground  by  taking  hold  of  the  edge  of  the 
leaf,  the  leaf  tearing  away  instead.  A good  boy  can  drop 
plants  fast  enough,  for  two  men  to  set ; he  should  be  taught  to 
drop  them  convenient  to  the  left  hand  of  the  workman,  to 
save  all  unnecessary  reaching  on  his  part.  It  is  a good  plan 
to  start  the  workman  on  a row  with  one  extra  plant  in  his 
hand,  which  he  sets  first,  and,  while  firming  the  earth  around 
this  plant  with  his  right  hand,  he  picks  up  the  plant  which 
the  boy  has  dropped  at  this  place,  which  he  has  in  his  hand 


Fig.  20. — Good  Dibber. 


Fig.  2i. — Poor  Dibber. 


EARLY  CABBAGES. 


57 


ready  to  set  at  the  next  place.  By  doing  this  way  a man  can 
set  plants  a trifle  faster  and  easier,  and  the  extra  plant  is 
always  at  hand  when  he  finds  one  broken  or  missing. 

Work,  from  the  time  the  plants  are  set  in  the  field  until 
they  are  harvested,  is  the  essential  element  of  success.  Cul- 
tivation is  not  only  necessary  to  keep  the  weeds  down,  but 
to  secure  the  growth  of  the  plant.  It  is  only  upon  wet  soils 
in  excessively  wet  weather  that  there  is  any  likelihood  of  our 
cultivating  the  soil  too  much.  It  is  true  that  to  secure  the 
best  results  from  cultivation  the  soil  should  be  reasonably  dry, 
but  there  are,  after  all,  but  few  times  when  we  cannot  culti- 
vate to  advantage,  except  immediately  after  a rain,  and  we 
are  much  more  liable  to  encounter  a season  when  dry  weather 
demands  constant  cultivation  as  the  price  of  growth,  than  one 
in  which  excessive  moisture  compels  us  to  refrain.  The  cul- 
tivation should  be  as  complete  and  constant  as  possible,  and, 
in  the  earlier  stages  of  growth,  the  horse  cultivator  can  be 
run  closely  to  the  plant  without  injury,  but  it  cannot  entirely 
take  the  place  of  hand  hoeing,  as  some  implement  dealers 
would  have  us  believe,  as  that  also  is  necessary  to  loosen  the 
soil  in  close  proximity  to  the  growing  plant.  It  is  advantage- 
ous to  cultivate  deeply  early  in  the  season,  but  during  the 
later  stage  of  growth,  when  the  plants  are  large  and  the  roots 
reach  out  in  every  direction,  the  cultivation  should  be  com- 
paratively shallow. 

The  amount  of  fertilizing  material  used  on  an  acre  of  early 
cabbages  by  some  of  our  best  gardeners  would  astonish  many 
of  the  readers  of  this  book.  One  hundred  dollars  is  fre- 
quently spread  over  an  acre  of  ground  before  the  plants  are 
set.  At  the  present  prices  it  is  doubtful  if  so  great  an  amount 
of  fertilizing  material  can  be  absorbed  by  the  crop,  and  yet 
there  is  no  danger  of  the  average  cultivator  using  too  much. 
To  our  mind,  one  and  one-half  tons  of  a high-grade  fertilizer 
is  as  much  as  the  crop  can  make  use  of  to  advantage.  This 


58 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


would  or  should  cost  a little  more  than  $50.  If  horse  manure 
be  used,  the  expenditure  would  probably  have  to  be  somewhat 
greater,  varying  with  the  facilities  of  the  gardener  for  obtain- 
ing it.  This  article  differs  greatly,  also,  as  to  its  manurial 
value,  and,  therefore,  it  is  impossible  to  fix  upon  any  compara- 
tive value  between  this  and  the  fertilizer  which  we  buy  on  an 
analysis. 

So  liberal  an  application  as  this  should  be  made  broadcast 
over  the  entire  surface  of  the  ground.  I know  that  it  is 
quite  a common  practice  with  many  very  successful  gardeners 
to  apply  a part  in  the  drill,  opening  a drill  quite  deeply,  then 
putting  in  the  fertilizer,  and  then  covering  the  drill  and  setting 
the  plants  on  top  of  the  row.  We  have  failed  to  note  any 
advantage  in  this  method,  provided  the  application  made 
broadcast  be  liberal  enough.  The  labor  of  preparation  is 
somewhat  increased  by  it,  and  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance 
that  the  crop  be  started  as  soon  as  possible.  At  the  same 
time,  if  we  were  to  apply  but  one-half  a ton  of  fertilizer  to  the 
acre,  we  should  put  it  in  the  drill  after  the  manner  indicated, 
but  the  best  plan  is  to  be  liberal  in  the  first  investment — put  it 
on  in  the  most  liberal  way,  and  then  we  may  reasonably 
expect  a liberal  return. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


LATE  CABBAGES. 

The  great  increase  made  in  the  acreage  devoted  to  early 
cabbages  in  the  Southern  States  during  recent  years  has,  with- 
out doubt,  shortened  the  area  planted  by  our  Northern 
gardeners.  At  this  time  the  main  reliance  with  them  is  the 
late  or  fall  crop.  From  the  fact  that  we  still  find  a large 
quantity  of  cabbage,  both  in  the  green  state  and  in  brine, 
imported  into  this  country  from  the  old  world,  it  would 
appear  that  the  cultivation  of  late  cabbage  might  still  be  much 
further  extended  here  with  profit  to  the  American  cultivator. 
Certain  it  is,  that  if  the  American  farmer  can  profitably  raise 
wheat,  corn,  and  oats  at  the  ruling  prices  of  late  years,  he 
can  well  afford  to  raise  all  the  cabbages  which  the  home 
market  demands. 

Growing  the  plants  during  the  hot,  dry  summer  months  is 
one  of  the  first  problems  we  have  to  solve ; and  it  is  often 
attended  with  so  much  difficulty,  and  failure  is  so  frequent, 
that  we  feel  inclined  to  devote  some  space  to  its  discussion. 

Anyone  can  grow  plants  under  favorable  conditions.  All 
we  have  to  do  is  to  prepare  the  seed-bed,  sow  the  seed,  and 
keep  the  weeds  out.  But  what  we  want  to  know  is,  how  to 
secure  a plentiful  supply  of  plants  under  unfavorable  con 
ditions,  when  the  weather  is  so  hot  and  dry  that  seed  of  the 
strongest  vitality  fails  to  germinate  and  all  things  combine  to 
render  the  work  difficult  and  uncertain.  In  all  our  experience 
we  have  found  that  the  principal  secret  of  success  lies  in  being 
prepared,  at  the  outset,  for  the  worst.  Any  one  who  desires  to 

59 


6o 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


22.— Watering  the  Rows  for  Seed  Planting. 


LATE  CABBAGES. 


61 


grow  a supply  of  plants,  either  of  cabbage  or  cauliflower, 
during  the  usual  season,  from  May  15th  to  July  15th,  is  foolish 
to  wait  until  planting  time  before  choosing  his  location  for  a 
seed-bed,  and  then,  finding  his  land  pretty  well  occupied,  sow 
his  seed  in  some  out-of-the-way  corner  where  the  chances  of 
success  are  largely  against  him ; but,  foolish  as  such  a practice 
is,  it  is  very  frequent. 

The  choice  of  location  for  a seed-bed  should  be  made  early 
in  the  spring.  A small  piece  of  ground,  which  has  had 
nothing  of  a similar  character  grown  upon  it  for  several  years, 
should  be  set  apart.  Club-root  frequently  appears  in  the 
seed-beds  in  cabbage-growing  districts  and  renders  thousands 
of  plants  unfit  for  transplanting;  its  effects,  in  many  instances, 
being  more  disastrous  in  the  seed-beds  than  in  the  open  fields 
where  it  appears  at  a more  advanced  stage  of  growth.  Care 
should,  therefore,  be  exercised  to  secure  a piece  of  ground 
where  we  are  most  likely  to  be  free  from  such  disease.  We 
must  be  sure  that  there  has  been  no  indication  of  this  disease 
in  the  crop  which  was  grown  on  the  land  selected  for  our 
purpose  the  year  previous.  If  we  can  secure  a piece  of  ground 
which  has  been  in  grass  for  a number  of  years,  and  the  year 
before  planted  with  corn  or  some  similar  crop,  we  have  all 
that  could  be  desired.  Where  this  is  impossible  we  have 
simply  to  use  our  best  judgment  to  secure  immunity  from  the 
disease  which  usually  follows  continued  planting  of  turnips, 
Brussel  sprouts,  cabbage,  and  plants  of  similar  character. 
Our  location,  also,  should  never  be  upon  a hillside,  where 
heavy  rains  are  likely  to  wash  the  soil  away,  nor  in  a narrow 
valley  where,  from  the  same  cause,  the  bed  is  liable  to  be 
covered  by  the  wash  from  neighboring  slopes.  The  selection 
being  made,  the  ground  should  be  plowed  as  early  in  the 
spring  as  the  season  will  permit,  and  finely  harrowed,  the 
harrowing  to  be  repeated  as  frequently  as  is  necessary  to  keep 
the  land  clean  until  the  time  we  desire  to  employ  it  as  a seed- 


62 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


bed.  Where  such  preparation  has  been  made  we  shall  find 
that,  if  we  are  compelled  to  sow  seed  in  dry  weather,  we  have 
retained  all  the  moisture  which  is  possible  in  our  seed-bed, 
and  if  the  weather  is  wet,  we  have  at  hand  a piece  of  ground 
which  works  up  freely  and  in  good  condition. 

Where  this  method  is  followed  there  are  few  occasions  when 

the  seed  on  such  a 
piece  of  ground  will 
not  germinate  freely, 
provided  the  soil  be 
properly  firmed  on  the 
seed  when  planted  in 
dry  weather.  The  late 
Peter  Henderson  wrote 
an  article,  years  ago, 
upon  “ The  Use  of  the 
Feet  in  Seed-Sowing,” 
which  was  widely  pub- 
lished at  the  time  and 
contained  a valuable 
suggestion.  His  rec- 
ommendation was  sim- 
ply to  pass  over  the 
row,  after  sowing  the 
seed,  with  your  full 
weight  resting  on  the 
ball  of  your  foot,  thus 
giving  the  full  weight 
of  a man  on  every  inch  of  the  row  and  firmly  pressing  the  soil 
upon  the  seed.  Where  the  ground  is  dry,  or  very  liable  to 
become  so,  it  seems  impossible  for  a man  to  press  the  soil  so 
firmly  on  the  seed  as  to  do  injury ; but  such  a method  is  both 
unnecessary  and  unwise  when  the  ground  is  wet.  The  ques- 
tion of  its  advisability  under  all  cases  is  one  which  the  judg- 


wWgHTEO  1894. 

Fig.  23. — Planting  the  Seed  Bed. 


LATE  CABBAGES. 


63 


ment  and  experience  of  the  gardener  should  be  competent  to 
decide. 

There  are  times,  however,  when  the  ground  becomes  so  hot 
and  dry  that  the  requisite  moisture  for  the  germination  of  the 
seed  must  be  supplied  by  artificial  means,  and  it  is  important 
that  the  work  be  done  in  a manner  to  secure  success.  It  is 
almost  useless  to  undertake  to  sprinkle  water  over  a seed-bed 
of  any  considerable  size,  and  we  have  found  the  following 
method  best  suited  to  the  purpose.  As  soon  as  the  ground  is 
prepared,  rows  fourteen  inches  apart  and  about  two  inches 
deep  are  marked  in  the 
soft,  fine  earth  (Fig. 

22) ; then,  with  the 
ordinary  watering-pot, 
from  which  the  sprink- 
ler has  been  removed, 
a man  walks  slowly 
along,  filling  the  rows 
with  water,  which  is 
allowed  to  settle  away 
and  will  wet  the  dirt 
thoroughly  for  three 
inches  below  the  bot- 
tom of  the  row  (Fig. 

22).  The  seed  may  then  be  planted  in  the  rows  so  watered 
and  covered  by  raking  the  drier  earth  over  it.  Press  the 
earth  gently  upon  the  seed,  and  we  shall  have  moisture 
enough  not  only  to  insure  germination  but  to  provide  also 
for  the  early  growth  of  the  plant  (Fig.  23). 

In  the  event  of  a hard  shower  soon  after  the  seed  .is  sowed 
it  is  best  to  rake  the  top  of  the  ground  as  lightly  as  it  can  be 
done  and  still  make  the  work  effectual,  in  order  to  break  the 
hard  crust  which  would  otherwise  form  and  possibly  make  it 
difficult  for  the  plant  germ  to  break  through.  This  work  can 


Fig.  24. — Marker. 


6 4 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


be  done  at  any  time  until  the  plants  are  beginning  to  prick 
through  the  ground,  after  which  it  is  liable  to  injure  them. 
Where  these  directions  are  followed  it  should  be  easy  to  se- 
cure the  required  number  of  plants.  We  have  not  found  it 
necessary  to  water  the  bed  after  the  seed  is  up,  even  in  our 
driest  seasons,  but  frequent  stirring  of  the  soil  between  the 
rows  promotes  growth. 

Late  cabbages,  in  most  of  our  market  gardens,  are  planted 
as  a second  crop.  They  can,  with  advantage,  be  made  to 
follow  early  potatoes,  peas,  etc., — in  fact,  anything  which  can 
be  marketed  by  the  fifteenth  of  July  will  give  time  for  a crop 
of  late  cabbage  in  the  latitude  of  New  York  City.  Many 
acres  are  planted  on  farms  which  are  not  yet  given  over  en- 
tirely to  market  gardening,  upon  grass  land  which  has  pro- 
duced a crop  of  hay,  and  such  a piece  of  ground  is  an  excel- 
lent location  in  a season  when  we  have  an  abundance  of  rain. 
In  a dry  summer,  however,  it  is  not  advisable,  as  the 
growing  grass  has  already  absorbed  what  little  moisture  the 
soil  possessed,  and  sod  turned  over  in  a dry  summer  is  the 
driest  of  all  dry  places.  In  such  a season  the  best  results 
will  be  obtained  by  following  one  of  the  spring  crops,  or,  if 
we  have  an  abundance  of  land,  select  the  proper  field  in  the 
spring  and  allow  it  to  remain  unoccupied  during  the  early 
season.  Such  a piece  of  ground  should  be  plowed  early  in 
the  spring  and  harrowed  at  intervals  until  required  for  plant- 
ing, and  where  so  treated  is,  without  doubt,  the  best  place 
obtainable  for  planting  late  cabbages. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  force  the  growth  of  late  cabbages  to 
the  same  extent  that  we  do  the  early  crop,  and  therefore  the 
amount  of  fertilizer  required  is  not  usually  as  large,  an  appli- 
cation of  from  1500  to  2000  pounds  of  a complete  high-grade 
fertilizer  being  sufficient,  on  reasonably  good  soil,  to  secure 
excellent  crops.  To  our  mind,  about  2000  pounds  should  be 
spread  broadcast  over  an  acre,  as  evenly  as  possible,  as  soon 
as  the  ground  is  plowed,  and  harrowed  in. 


LATE  CABBAGES. 


65 


The  season  for  planting  depends  almost  entirely  upon  the 
variety  and  the  conditions  of  the  season  in  the  locality  of  the 
grower.  Upon  Long  Island  we  find  that  we  can  secure  fall 
crops  of  the  late,  large-growing  varieties,  such  as  the  various 
strains  of  Late  Flat  Dutch  and  Drumhead,  by  planting  about 
July  15th ; of  such  sorts  as  All  Seasons,  Fottler’s  Brunswick, 
Louisville  Drumhead,  etc.,  by  planting  about  July  25th; 
while  Henderson’s  Succession,  Early  Flat  Dutch,  Burpee’s 
Allhead  Early,  Early  Summer,  etc.,  may  be  planted  as  late 
as  August  1 st.  The  experience  of  the  grower  in  his  own 
locality  with  different  varieties  will  readily  show  him  what  to 
plant  and  when  to  plant  it. 

As  the  season  approaches  for  setting  out  the  crop  we  should 
have  our  ground  plowed,  fertilized,  and  thoroughly  harrowed, 
ready  to  take  advantage  of  the  first  shower;  but  at  the  same 
time  we  think  that  one  of  the  best  rules  a man  can  make,  both 
in  regard  to  cabbages  and  cauliflowers,  is  never  to  wait  for 
rain.  It  is  true  that  the  extra  labor  of  setting  the  plants  with 
water  means  extra  expense,  but,  in  most  instances,  it  proves 
a valuable  investment.  It  is  always  best  to  choose  a time 
when  southerly  breezes  and  a moist  atmosphere  will  enable 
the  plant  to  rally  during  the  night  from  the  trying  effects  of 
necessary  exposure  to  the  sun. 

A good  rule  to  adopt  in  regard  to  setting  plants  is  this : 
Whenever  the  ground  is  moist  enough  to  enable  a man  to 
thrust  a dibber  into  the  earth  and  withdraw  it,  leaving  a hole 
which  is  not  filled  at  once  with  dry  dirt,  there  is  sufficient 
moisture  for  setting  plants  in  reasonably  favorable  weather 
without  the  use  of  water.  It  is  best,  however,  in  setting 
plants  at  any  time,  except  immediately  after  a rain,  to  loosen 
them  in  the  seed-bed  with  a pitchfork  before  pulling  them, 
and,  when  pulled,  take  them  in  large  handfuls  and  dip  the 
roots  in  a pail  of  water,  thoroughly  wetting  the  earth  which 
clings  to  the  roots.  We  have  found  this  of  great  advantage, 
5 


66 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


and  the  extra  work  is  so  trifling  that  we  think  it  best  to  do 
this  under  all  circumstances.  Whenever  there  is  so  little 
moisture  in  the  earth  that  it  will  not  pack  sufficiently,  but 
fills  the  hole  left  by  the  dibber  at  once  with  dry  dirt,  a plant 
cannot  be  expected  to  live,  and  we  must  resort  to  the  use  of 
water. 

As  soon  as  the  ground  is  prepared  and  marked  out,  a man, 
with  a heavy  stick  about  four  or  five  feet  long,  2^  inches  in 
diameter,  makes  a hole  in  each  planting  place.  He  is  fol- 
lowed by  another  man  who  fills  each  hole  with  water,  usually 
putting  about  half  a pint  at  each  place,  which  is  sufficient ; 
this  is  allowed  to  settle  away,  which  it  does  rapidly  in  the  dry 
earth,  and  then  the  plants  can  be  set  in  their  proper  place 
with  every  prospect  of  success.  This  gives  them  all  the  ad- 
vantages of  a good  rain,  and  as  we  can  usually  pick  out  such 
weather  as  we  want  for  setting  them,  we  have  found  a great 
advantage  in  this  method  over  setting  after  a rain  which 
cleared  off  with  high  northwesterly  winds  or  a burning  sun. 

To  those  who  have  never  tried  it  the  extra  work  may  seem 
a serious  hindrance,  but  two  or  three  men  will  make  rapid 
progress,  and  we  do  not  think  that  the  labor  of  transplanting 
is  increased  by  this  means  more  than  one-third.  We  will  find 
the  employment  of  this  extra  labor  much  better  than  to  allow 
the  proper  planting  season  to  slip  by  while  waiting  for  rain. 

The  same  thorough  cultivation  required  by  early  cabbages 
is  necessary  to  the  late  crop  also,  although  it  is  hardly  neces- 
sary to  carry  it  so  far  toward  maturity  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
as  in  the  summer  months. 

It  is  a busy  time  on  the  farm  or  market  garden  when  we  are 
called  upon  to  harvest  the  crop.  Shortening  days  and  frosty 
mornings  advise  us  of  a fast  approaching  winter,  and  all  our 
energies  are  directed  to  securing  the  season’s  crops.  We  are 
not  compelled  to  market  our  crop  of  late  cabbages  immedi- 
ately at  maturity,  as  is  the  case  with  the  early  crop.  During 


LATE  CABBAGES. 


67 


the  cool  weather  of  the  fall  they  can  be  held  for  a favorable 
turn  in  the  market,  and,  if  necessary,  even  carried  over  the 
winter.  It  is,  however,  advisable,  with  this  crop,  as  with 
every  other,  to  market  direct  from  the  field  whenever  it  can 
be  done  at  remunerative  prices. 

Barrels  are  principally  used  for  transportation  and  should 
be  packed  as  closely  as  possible  ; loose  packing,  for  the  sake  of 
increasing  the  number  of  barrels,  is  very  expensive,  as  all  pro- 
duce so  packed  arrives  in  poor  shape  and  sells  at  lower  prices. 
Equally  expensive,  in  the  long  run,  is  a somewhat  common 
practice  of  putting  poor  truck  in  the  bottom  of  the  barrel 
and  only  good  heads  on  top.  The  mark  of  a man  who  adopts 
such  tactics  soon  becomes  known  to  intending  purchasers,  and 
his  goods  are  either  avoided  or  heavily  discounted. 

If  the  goods  are  consigned  for  sale  to  some  commission 
dealer — the  common  practice  with  all  growers  living  at  a dis- 
tance from  the  market, — it  is  best  that  you  should  become 
pretty  well  acquainted  with  your  man  ; investigate  his  facili- 
ties for  disposing  of  your  crops ; satisfy  yourself,  so  far  as 
possible,  of  his  financial  responsibility  and  business  integrity; 
then  see  that  he  has  the  goods  in  the  best  possible  condition, 
and  you  may  expect  the  best  prices  which  the  market  affords. 

A man’s  name  on  a barrel  usually  indicates  the  quality  of 
the  goods  it  contains.  If  a man  has  been  in  the  habit  of 
putting  up  good  stock  in  good  shape  and  culling  out  the  poor 
truck  to  be  sold  as  such,  his  name  on  the  package  is  a guaran- 
tee of  quality  and  his  goods  find  ready  sale,  while  those  of 
doubtful  character  go  begging. 

These  facts  must  be  apparent  to  every  one  who  takes  the 
trouble  to  think  it  over,  and  have  been  preached  by  writers  on 
the  subject  for  years,  and  yet  it  still  seems  that  a large  portion 
of  the  produce  sent  to  our  markets  must  be  put  up  with  the 
idea  that  some  one  is  going  to  be  fooled  into  buying  poor 
stuff  for  good. 


68 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


When  they  are  grown  in  large  quantities,  cabbages  may,  by 
special  arrangement,  be  sent  loose  in  car-load  lots,  and  such 
transportation  brings  them  to  market  in  good  shape  at  much 
less  cost  for  freight,  which  is  no  inconsiderable  item  on  pro- 
duce so  bulky.  When  so  carried,  however,  it  is  necessary  that 
the  weather  be  cool,  the  transportation  company  reasonably 
prompt,  and  the  cabbages  dry  when  loaded ; otherwise  they 
may  be  liable  to  heat  and  reach  the  dealer  in  bad  shape. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


STORING  FOR  WINTER. 

For  early  winter  sales  they  may  be  taken  up  with  the  roots 
on  and  stored  in  well-ventilated  cellars,  where  they  will  keep 
till  midwinter,  or  they  may  be  stacked  in  some  sheltered  posi- 
tion about  the  barn,  placing  one  above  another  in  tiers,  with 
the  roots  inside,  and  covering  them  deeply  with  sea-weed,  or, 


Fig.  25. 


if  this  cannot  be  procured,  something  like  corn  stalks  (Fig.  25) 
may  be  used  to  keep  them  from  the  weather  as  much  as  pos- 
sible. When  so  stored  they  may  be  obtained  at  any  time 
during  the  early  winter  when  the  market  is  favorable. 

When  it  is  desired  to  keep  them  until  spring,  we  must  bury 

69 


7o 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


them  in  the  ground,  and  two  methods  are  in  common  use. 
Our  market  gardeners  very  largely  stick  to  the  old  way  of 
turning  them  over  and  setting  them  flat  on  the  ground  in 
long  rows  with  the  roots  up,  and  then,  with  plow  and  shovel, 
covering  the  heads  with  earth  to  a depth  of  three  or  four 
inches,  leaving  the  root  exposed  at  the  top  of  the  ridge.  In 
this  way  they  usually  keep  fairly  well  (Fig.  26),  but  we  have 
frequently  found  considerable  rot  at  the  juncture  of  the  stalk 
with  the  head,  and  we  think  that  the  root  protruding  through 


Fig.  26. 


the  top  of  the  ridge  allows  the  water  from  our  winter  rains  to 
enter  and  settle  around  this  point,  which  leads  to  decay. 
Certain  it  is  that  they  will  not  keep  as  well  until  late  in  the 
spring,  and  do  not,  as  a rule,  come  out  as  fresh  as  when 
buried  after  the  method  of  seed  growers,  which  will  probably 
be  new  to  most  of  our  readers. 

A cabbage  plow  is  first  used  to  lift  them,  running  close  to 
the  side  and  under  the  plant.  This  merely  loosens  them  and 
admits  of  our  taking  them  up  with  a good  ball  of  earth,  with- 


STORING  FOR  WINTER.  7 1 

out  tearing  the  roots.  One  row  in  every  five  (if  the  cabbage 
be  large),  is  now  taken  up  and  laid  one  side,  and  in  the 
space  so  made  clear,  with  a large  plow,  we  make  a trench  as 
deep  as  possible,  going  and  returning  in  the  same  furrow. 
The  cabbages  are  then  placed  along  each  side,  and  one  man 
standing  in  the  trench  packs  them  as  closely  as  possible  with 
the  roots  down  in  the  bottom.  He  moves  slowly  backward  as 
the  work  progresses,  and,  by  packing  at  a slight  angle,  is  able 
to  make  better  work  than  by  trying  to  put  them  in  perpen- 
dicularly. Where  the  heads  are  large,  two  heads  are  placed 
abreast  in  the  trench,  and,  if  closely  stowed,  one  trench  will 
hold  five  rows  of  the  same  length. 


Fig.  27. 


After  stowing  them  away  in  this  manner,  a little  straw  or 
similar  material  (Fig.  27)  may  be  used  directly  over  the 
heads  to  keep  them  clean,  but  should  not  be  put  on  deeply 
with  the  idea  of  protection,  and  the  trench  then  covered  by 
plowing  three  heavy  furrows  upon  it  from  each  side  and  com- 
pleting the  ridge  so  made  with  a shovel,  the  whole  being 
covered  to  a depth  of  six  to  eight  inches. 

This  method  affords  the  most  complete  protection  of  any 
of  which  we  have  knowledge.  It  is  not  only  a good  way 
to  bury  large,  full-grown  heads  for  the  winter,  but  smaller, 
immature  heads,  not  sufficiently  developed  to  be  saleable  in 


72 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


the  fall,  will  grow  and  mature  in  the  trenches  and  come  out 
in  the  spring  in  condition  for  the  market.  The  labor  of 
burying  in  this  way  is  not  greater  than  by  the  method  first 
described,  and  we  know  of  but  one  disadvantage  which  would 
attend  its  general  use ; on  account  of  the  deeper  covering  of 
earth  we  could  not  as  readily  break  into  the  trenches  in  early 
spring,  as  we  sometimes  do,  when  considerable  frost  is  en- 
countered. For-  this  reason  it  might  be  well  to  use  both 
methods  to  some  extent,  burying  the  most  mature  stock  for 
earliest  sales  by  that  first  described,  and  using  the  second  for 
the  more  immature  stock.  This  would,  of  course,  increase 
the  labor  of  burying  to  some  extent,  but  might  enable  us  to 
catch  a favorable  turn  in  the  early  spring  market. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


EARLY  CAULIFLOWERS. 

Having  given  in  detail  our  ideas  on  the  cultivation  of  early 
cabbages,  it  is  not  necessary  that  we  should  enter  so  min- 
utely into  the  cultivation  of  early  cauliflowers,  as  the  methods 
applying  to  the  former  crop  may  largely  be  made  applicable  to 
the  latter.  The  cauliflower  plant,  however,  is  not  as  hardy  as 
the  cabbage ; the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  work  more  to  its 
injury  ; it  is  rather  more  sensitive  to  excessively  dry  weather, 
and  excessively  wet  weather  at  the  season  of  maturity,  if  tjje 
temperature  is  high,  will  often  result  in  the  destruction  of 
the  entire  crop. 

There  is  probably  no  crop  pertaining  to  the  market  garden 
where  the  road  to  success  leads  over  so  many  obstacles  as  in 
the  cultivation  of  early  cauliflowers,  and  yet,  where  a fine 
crop  is  secured,  the  profits  are  usually  very  satisfactory. 

In  growing  the  plants  and  in  the  general  cultivation  of  the 
crop  the  methods  given  for  early  cabbages  will  be  found  to 
apply  to  early  cauliflowers,  but  the  plants  will  not  bear  as 
close  planting  ; two  by  three  feet  gives  none  too  much  space 
for  the  earliest  varieties.  Overcrowding  is  not  profitable  in 
growing  this  crop,  as  it  decreases  the  size  of  the  heads,  and  we 
have  found  it  much  better  to  allow  the  plant  plenty  of  room 
to  reach  the  highest  stage  of  development. 

In  regard  to  the  fertilizing  of  early  cauliflowers  we  certainly 
should  not  plant  them  unless  our  ground  has  been  first  highly 
manured.  All  our  experience  shows  that  it  is  extremely 
difficult  to  secure  the  finest  heads  of  cauliflowers  during  the 

73 


74 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


warm  weather  of  early  summer,  when  we  are  to  market  the 
crop,  and  success  is  hardly  to  be  expected  unless  we  can  secure 
a strong,  vigorous  growth  of  plant.  In  this  respect  we  think 
it  differs  somewhat  from  early  cabbage.  The  cabbage  plant 
will  stand  some  neglect,  and  while,  like  everything  else,  it 
rewards  the  best  treatment  with  the  best  returns,  it  usually 
returns  something  even  where  indifferently  treated,  but  early 
cauliflowers  require  both  liberal  manuring  and  thorough 
cultivation  to  promote  growth  and  secure  satisfactory  results, 
and  unless  these  essentials  are  supplied,  the  result  is  pretty 
likely  to  be  complete  failure  and  consequent  loss  of  time  and 
money. 

In  considering  the  advisability  of  planting  early  cauli- 
flowers, we  must  look  first  at  our  facilities  for  marketing  the 
crop.  As  the  harvesting  season  is  in  warm  weather  it  will  not 
stand  long  carriage  in  close  freight  cars  and  arrive  in  market 
in  the  best  of  shape.  If  our  situation  is  such  that  the  crop 
cannot  be  driven  direct  to  the  market  from  the  field,  it  is  best 
to  make  arrangements  with  some  express  company  to  secure 
the  prompt  delivery  of  the  goods.  By  combining  together,  a 
number  of  truckers  ought  to  be  able  to  secure  satisfactory 
rates  by  express  as  well  as  good  and  prompt  service.  It  is 
quite  necessary  that  produce  of  this  character  should  be  on 
sale  early  in  the  morning  of  the  day  following  that  on  which 
it  is  taken  from  the  growing  field.  If  we  can  secure  such 
arrangements  as  will  enable  us  to  cut  our  cauliflowers  in  the 
afternoon  and  have  them  reach  market  the  following  morning 
in  time  for  the  earliest  sales,  we  need  nothing  better  so  far  as 
transportation  is  concerned.  Full  directions  for  harvesting  by 
the  most  convenient  method,  as  well  as  preparing  and  pack- 
ing for  market,  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  Late  Cauli- 
flower, and  are  therefore  unnecessary  here. 

A number  of  writers  have  advised  cutting  cauliflowers  while 
wet  with  dew  in  the  morning,  but  we  think  such  a plan  is  en- 


EARLY  CAULIFLOWERS. 


75 


tirely  wrong.  As  is  well  known,  all  such  produce  is  placed 
on  sale  in  all  our  large  markets  very  early  in  the  morning, 
usually  from  two  to  four  o’clock,  and  to  make  these  sales  our 
produce  must  of  necessity  be  cut  the  day  before.  Cutting  in 
the  morning,  therefore,  simply  lengthens  the  time  between  the 
field  and  the  market.  We  have  also  noted  very  injurious 
effects  from  packing  cauliflowers  when  wet,  as  they  are  very 
liable  to  heat  and  rot,  particularly  in  warm  weather,  and,  we 
believe,  should  be  as  dry  as  possible  when  packed  for  trans- 
portation. 

It  is  quite  true  that  the  growing  of  this  crop  is  attended 
with  considerable  risk,  and  yet  we  believe  that  the  business 
is  capable  of  great  development. 

We  have  not  noted  the  difficulties  which  stand  in  the  way 
of  success  with  any  idea  of  discouraging  the  prospective  cul- 
tivator, but  because  we  believe  that  by  looking  intelligently 
at  these  obstacles  we  may  become  fully  prepared  for  them  and 
the  more  likely  to  achieve  success. 

At  the  ruling  prices  of  the  present  time  early  cauliflowers 
should  be  one  of  the  most  profitable  crops  of  the  market  gar- 
den. Increased  supply  would,  without  doubt,  lead  to  increased 
consumption,  and  greater  experience  under  our  own  local  con- 
ditions should  lead  to  a lessening  of  the  cost  of  production 
and  the  attainment  of  the  most  satisfactory  results. 


CHAPTER  X. 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 

Upon  Eastern  Long  Island,  where  this  plant  is  cultivated 
more  extensively  than  upon  any  similar  area  in  the  United 
States,  the  cauliflower  season  is  a long  one,  and  sowing  the 
seed  begins  about  as  early  as  it  can  safely  be  put  in  the  ground 
in  the  spring  and  continues  at  intervals  until  the  latter  part 
of  June. 

We  use  the  term  “late  cauliflower,*’  not  because  the  crop 
of  which  we  are  speaking  is  necessarily  planted  late,  but  to 
distinguish  the  main  crop,  where  the  seed  is  planted  in  the 
open  ground  during  spring  or  early  summer,  from  the 
early  crop,  where  it  is  sowed  the  fall  previous  or  under  glass 
in  the  winter  time. 

Continued  plantings  are  advisable,  as  they  extend  the  time 
of  transplanting  and  enable  us  to  avoid  a rush  of  work  at  this 
season,  and  also,  by  lengthening  the  time  in  which  the  crop 
must  be  marketed,  we  are  enabled  to  take  care  of  the  crop 
properly  and  avoid,  so  far  as  possible,  the  glutting  of  the 
market  which  always  attends  the  heaviest  shipments. 

Having  entered  pretty  fully  on  the  growing  of  plants  in  the 
chapter  on  Late  Cabbages,  further  detail  here  would  be  super- 
fluous. We  have  only  to  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  we  rarely 
obtain  seed  of  cauliflower  which  has  as  strong  germinative 
power  as  that  of  cabbage,  and  that  the  plant  when  young  is 
more  sensitive  to  unfavorable  conditions,  and,  therefore,  must 
not  be  neglected  in  the  slightest  degree  during  the  early  stage 
of  growth. 


76 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


77 


Late  cauliflowers  are  frequently  grown  as  a second  crop  in 
the  same  manner  as  late  cabbages,  but,  unless  our  operations 
are  confined  to  a very  limited  area,  we  do  not  consider  it 
advisable.  The  latter  plantings  could  be  made  to  advantage 
after  such  a crop  as  early  peas,  where  we  would  be  enabled  to 
give  the  land  two  plowings  in  the  interval  between  harvesting 
the  first  crop  and  planting  the  second ; but,  as  a rule,  the  best 
results  are  obtained  by  those  who  save  the  ground  for  this 
crop  early  in  the  spring,  plowing  it  at  that  time  and  harrow- 
ing at  intervals  until  required. 

The  season  for  transplanting  in  the  field  begins  in  this  sec- 
tion (Eastern  Long  Island)  about  June  15th  and  continues 
until  the  early  part  of  August.  To  secure  plants  for  setting 
as  early  as  June  15  th  the  seed  must  be  planted  by  May 
1 st,  as  fully  six  weeks  are  required  to  bring  them  to  the  proper 
size  at  this  season  of  the  year.  Later  on,  when  the  weather 
and  ground  have  become  warmer,  we  find  they  reach  the  proper 
stage  more  quickly,  and  for  seed  sown  in  the  month  of  June  a 
period  of  five  weeks  is  probably  a sufficient  length  of  time  to 
allow. 

Right  here  let  me  say  that  it  is  never  good  policy  to  set  the 
plants  too  small.  They  should  have  a good,  strong,  stocky 
growth,  and  will  be  more  hardy  and  live  better  in  an  unfavor- 
able time  if  the  growth  has  been  moderately  slow  in  the  seed- 
bed than  if  it  has  been  rapid.  They  should  not,  however,  be 
allowed  to  remain  too  long  in  the  seed-bed,  as,  unless  they  are 
very  thin,  the  stem  will  become  long  and  crooked.  As  soon 
as  the  largest  of  them  has  attained  a height  of  about  six 
inches,  they  should  be  taken  out,  leaving  all  the  smaller  ones 
for  a later  setting.  We  find  that  removing  the  largest  plants 
from  the  bed  gives  more  room  to  those  remaining  and  dis- 
turbs their  growth  somewhat,  so  that  it  is  not  so  rapid  from 
this  time  forward ; but  on  this  account  it  is  hardier,  and  many 
market  gardeners  prefer  the  second  pulling.  The  apparent 


78 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


stunting  of  the  plants  from  pulling  out  a part  of  them,  and  so 
disturbing  their  roots,  seems  to  have  no  effect  upon  their  future 
growth  in  the  field  ; they  do  not  scald  as  badly  when  first  set 
out,  and  as  soon  as  they  recover  from  the  first  effects  of  trans- 
planting will  appear  to  go  forward  just  as  well.  I think, 
however,  that  it  would  be  easy  to  carry  this  line  of  reasoning 
too  far.  I certainly  should  not  care  to  set  plants  which  had 
been  standing  still  for  four  or  five  weeks  in  the  bed,  although 
I believe  that  within  reasonable  bounds  the  reasoning  is  good. 

It  is  never  best  to  crowd  cauliflowers  in  the  field.  Give 
them  plenty  of  room,  and  you  may  expect  a full  development. 
The  Dwarf  Erfurt  varieties  are  frequently  planted  about  two 
feet  apart  in  the  row,  and  the  space  between  rows  is  usually 
three  feet.  To  my  mind  it  would  be  better  to  plant  them 
2)4  X 3 feet,  which  will  admit  of  horse  cultivation  each  way 
when  the  plants  are  small,  and,  with  most  of  us,  the  saving  of 
labor  on  a field  of  any  considerable  size  will  compensate  for 
the  use  of  a little  more  ground,  and  we  may,  with  reason, 
expect  the  plants  to  do  better  at  this  distance.  The  larger 
strains  of  Erfurt  should  be  planted  3 X 3 feet,  and  the  Large 
Algiers  and  similar  strong-growing  sorts  should  be  planted  3 
feet  each  way. 

Cauliflowers  require  fully  as  much  fertilizer  and  fully  as 
much  cultivation  as  cabbages.  We  have  already  gone  as  fully 
into  these  questions  as  seems  necessary,  and  only  pause  here  to 
say  that  wherever  we  go  we  notice  that  the  best  success  attends 
the  efforts  of  him  who  treats  his  crop  the  best. 

The  main  crop  of  cauliflowers  fully  supplies  our  markets 
from  August  to  January.  In  about  eight  weeks,  if  the  season 
has  been  favorable  and  growth  rapid,  we  shall  find  our  early 
June  setting  beginning  to  make  heads,  and  the  long  season  of 
harvesting  is  at  hand.  Much  depends  upon  the  weather  for 
the  earliest  plantings;  if  we  can  have  it  reasonably  cool  in 
the  month  of  August  we  may  expect  good  heads,  but  if  hot, 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


79 


the  heads  are  very  likely  to  grow  leafy — that  is,  with  small 
leaves  protruding  from  each  intersection — or  develop  some  of 
the  other  peculiarities  which  frequently  lead  old  growers  to 
say  that  “you  never  know  what  they  are  going  to  do  until 
you  see  them  head.” 

Excessive  humidity  in  the  atmosphere  frequently  develops 
a disease  of  the  stalk  called  “stem-rot,”  which  sometimes 
destroys  whole  fields  and  for  which  we  have  no  known  remedy ; 
but  if  the  weather  be  cool  during  August,  with  occasionally  a 
cool  rain  to  keep  them  coming  along,  we  may  expect  to  see 
the  care  and  labor  which  have  been  given  to  these  plants 
rewarded,  and  well  rewarded,  too,  for  one  good  barrel  now 
will  be  worth  as  much  as  two  or  three  later  on  when  we’re 
crowding  every  market  to  get  them  out  of  the  way. 

As  soon  as  the  heads  attain  a size  of  about  five  inches  in 
diameter,  they  must  be  covered  in  such  a manner  as  to  shade 
them  from  the  sun  and  protect  them,  as  much  as  possible, 
from  all  wind  and  rain.  This  is  work  which  requires  care, 
judgment,  and  experience,  but  when  fully  understood  is  ac- 
complished rapidly.  It  is  the  usual  custom,  especially  among 
large  growers,  to  cut  the  cauliflowers  by  a certain  mark  made 
when  the  head  is  so  covered,  and  it  is  necessary,  therefore, 
that  in  covering  the  heads  the  work  be  done  intelligently,  so 
that  they  may  reach  the  proper  stage  of  maturity  for  market 
at  a given  time. 

The  work  is  usually  accomplished  after  the  following  man- 
ner : As  soon  as  the  plants  begin  to  head,  a man,  carrying  in 
his  left  hand  a small  bundle  of  rye  straw,  will  pass  down  be- 
tween two  rows,  closely  observing  the  plants  on  each  side  of 
him ; presently  he  sees  one  which,  in  his  judgment,  can  no 
longer  be  left  exposed  to  the  elements  without  injury,  when, 
taking  a few  straws  in  his  right  hand,  he  doubles  them,  mak- 
ing a short  band,  then,  passing  both  arms  completely  around 
the  outer  leaves,  he  draws  them  together  to  the  center  above 


8o 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


the  head  and  ties  them  securely  around  the  top.  This  process 
is  called  tying  up. 

Two  or  three  days  later,  according  to  the  weather  and 
the  rapidity  with  which  the  plants  are  heading,  they  will 
again  require  attention.  This  time  we  pass  over  the  field  as 
before,  taking  two  rows  at  a time,  but  using  small  wooden 
pins.  We  lap  the  leaves  loosely  one  over  the  other  all  around 
the  head  and  fasten  the  upper  ones  securely  with  the  pin. 
This  is  calling  pinning  up. 

Again,  in  two  or  three  days  we  shall  find  the  number  of 


Fig.  28.— Cauliflower  Plant  Tied  Up.  Fig.  29.— Cauliflower  Plant  Pinned  Up. 


heading  plants  increasing,  and  this  time  we  pass  over  the  field 
with  nothing  in  our  hands.  When  we  find  a head  of  the 
proper  size  we  simply  lap  one  leaf  over  another,  until  we  have 
secured  the  required  protection,  then  tuck  the  end  of  the 
upper  leaf  under  the  one  below  it,  forming,  with  these  outer 
leaves^  half  of  a knot.  This  is  called  tucking. 

We  now  have  in  the  field  three  distinct  marks  upon  the 
plants  which  are  heading ; our  first  mark,  those  covered  by 
means  of  straw  bands,  is  a week  old,  and  those  heads  are 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


Si 


ready  to  cut.  This  is  done  at  that  stage  of  growth  when  the 
head  has  attained  its  full  size  but  still  retains  its  solidity.  If 
allowed  to  remain  longer,  growth  continues,  but  the  head, 
instead  of  remaining  solid,  “bursts,”  or  branches  out  into 
the  next  stage  of  development,  which,  fully  carried  out, 
would  produce  first  the  blossom,  then  the  seed.  By  looking 
closely  at  the  outer  edge  of  the  fully  matured  head,  we  shall 
see  the  first  indication  of  this  condition ; the  head  is  begin- 
ning  to  burst  and  all  further  growth  in  size  will  be  at  the 
expense  of  its  solidity.  It  is  now  in  the  best  condition  for 
market  and  should  at  once  be 
cut.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
different  methods  we  have 
adopted  in  covering  the 
heads,  we  should  now  be 
compelled  to  part  the  leaves 
and  look  closely  at  each  one 
which  has  been  covered,  but 
if  the  work  of  covering  has 
been  properly  done,  all  this 
extra  labor  is  obviated ; we 
simply  cut  the  first  mark, 
those  tied  up  with  straw,  and 
leave  all  others  for  future  cut- 
ting ; then,  having  removed  the  first  lot  tied  with  straw,  we 
use  this  mark  again  for  covering  the  heads,  cutting  next  time 
those  which  are  pinned  up,  and  so  the  work  continues. 

If  inexperienced  men  are  intrusted  with  the  work  of  cov- 
ering the  heads,  loss  is  likely  to  result  from  its  being  im- 
properly done  unless  they  are  thoroughly  instructed.  The 
leaves  must  not  be  bound  tightly  across  it  when  half  grown, 
as  it  usually  is  at  this  time  that  the  head  requires  room  for 
further  development,  and  there  must  be  some  air  space  above 
it  to  prevent  rotting  in  hot,  moist  weather.  It  is,  therefore, 
6 


Fig.  30.— Cauliflower  Plant  Tucked  Up. 


Fig.  31. — Harvesting  Cauliflower. 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


83 


necessary  in  covering  that  as  much  space  as  possible  be  left 
for  the  head,  but  at  the  same  time  the  leaves  should  be 
securely  fastened  so  that  there  be  no  danger  of  the  wind  blow- 
ing them  apart. 

In  harvesting  the  crop  two  methods  are  in  common  use  : In 
some  instances  the  heads  are  cut  off  below  the  lower  leaf, 
loaded  upon  a wagon,  and  taken  to  the  farm  buildings,  where 
they  are  trimmed  and  packed  in  barrels  for  the  market.  In 
others,  the  barrels  are  taken  to  the  field  and  placed  along  each 
end  of  the  lot  at  convenient  distances,  the  workman  carrying 
a large  basket,  cutting  and  trimming  the  heads  as  he  goes 
along,  and  packing  in  the  barrels  in  the  field.  This  latter 
method  has  the  advantage  of  saving  labor,  as  there  is  less 
handling  and  the  useless  leaves  are  left  in  the  field,  where 
they  can  be  plowed  under  as  soon  as  the  crop  is  removed.  It 
is  not  advisable,  however,  to  pack  them  for  any  length  of  time 
before  shipping,  or  when  they  are  wet,  and  this  method  cannot, 
therefore,  be  practiced  except  in  dry  weather  or  when  imme- 
diate shipment  from  the  field  is  to  be  made. 

A little  practice  renders  a man  quite  expert  in  cutting  and 
trimming  and  capable  of  accomplishing  a great  deal  of  work. 
With  a heavy  knife  in  his  right  hand  he  severs  the  stalk  at 
one  blow  just  above  the  ground  ; then,  lifting  the  head  with 
his  left  hand,  another  blow  cuts  closer  to  the  head  at  the 
proper  place  to  leave  a few  outer  leaves  encircling  the  head  ; 
he  now  holds  the  head  upright  upon  his  left  hand  and  cuts  the 
leaves  off  neatly  at  a level  with  the  head  all  round  (Fig.  31). 
The  next  operation  consists  of  picking  out  the  few  short 
leaves  which  grow  close  to  the  head  and  cannot  well  be 
reached  by  the  knife,  and,  as  is  usually  the  case,  covering  the 
head  with  white  tea  paper,  or  “papering,”  as  it  is  called. 

When  there  is  such  a rush  of  cauliflower  in  the  market 
that  every  commission  merchant’s  stand  overflows  and  covers 
half  the  street,  papering  rarely  pays.  We  then  get  but  little  for 


84 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


the  goods,  and  extra  work  in  putting  them  up  seemingly  goes 
for  nothing ; but  whenever  there  is  a good  or  even  a fair  mar- 
ket, it  is  best  to  paper  the  good  heads,  which  simply  consists 
of  covering  them  with  a sheet  of  paper,  the  edges  of  which 
are  tucked  in  between  the  head  and  outer  leaves.  When  put 
up  in  this  way  they  will  usually  arrive  at  the  market  in  bet- 
ter shape  and  present  a better  appearance  on  the  stand,  which 
ought  to  result  in  an  increased  price.  Whether  papered  or 
not,  the  poor  heads  should  be  culled  out  from  the  good  ones, 
which  should  be  put  up  separately  and  marked,  the  usual  cus- 


good  trade  on  your  particular  brand.  The  culls  should  be 
put  up  separately,  marked  as  such,  and  sold  for  what  they  will 
bring. 

There  can  be  no  question  but  that  a great  deal  of  money  is 
lost  by  improper  packing  ; in  the  first  place,  it  is  never  good 
policy  to  pack  good  cauliflowers  in  poor  barrels  which  will 
hardly  hold  together  to  reach  market.  Good  cauliflowers  are 
always  worthy  of  a good  barrel,  and  will  command  a better 
price  from  one  end  of  the  season  to  the  other,  if  well  put  up. 

Beginning  at  the  bottom,  the  heads  are  packed  in  layers  one 


Fig.  32. — “ Papered  ” Head  of  Cauliflower. 


tom  being  to  mark  XX 
across  the  top  of  all 
good  barrels,  and  in 
case  they  are  papered 
the  letter  P is  fre- 
quently put  on.  A 
salesman  soon  learns 
what  to  expect  from 
these  marks,  and,  if 
the  work  be  honestly 
done  and  the  grade 
kept  up  to  a high 
standard,  will  soon  be 
able  to  establish  a 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


85 


above  the  other,  until  the  barrel  is  filled  to  the  top  (Fig.  33), 
then  rounded  up  by  placing  a few  heads-  face  downward  upon 
the  top.  They  should  be  packed,  so  far  as  possible,  upon  the 
side,  care  being  taken  to  so  place  them  in  the  barrel  that  the 
stump  of  the  head  cannot  crush  into  and  bruise  the  head 
below  through  the  necessary  jar  incidental  to  transportation. 


Fig.  33. — Packing  for  Market. 


They  should  be  packed  as  closely  as  possible  in  the  barrel,  and 
the  cover,  which  is  of  burlap  or  any  kind  of  bagging,  is  drawn 
tightly  over  the  heads  in  the  following  manner  : Remove  first 
the  top  hoop,  spread  the  cover  over  the  head  of  the  barrel, 
place  the  hoop  over  it,  and  fasten  it  in  place  on  one  side ; 
then  the  workman,  leaning  his  chest  directly  upon  the  top  of 


86 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


the  heads,  allows  a good  share  of  his  weight  to  rest  upon  them, 
pressing  them  down  closely,  and,  drawing  the  cover  as  tightly 
as  possible  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  barrel,  drives  the 
hoop  in  place  and  nails  it  fast.  At  first  thought,  some  of  my 
readers  may  imagine  that  the  weight  of  the  man  will  crush  the 
heads,  but,  if  properly  packed,  this  is  just  the  means  to  pre- 
vent it.  (Fig.  34.) 

The  barrels  are  usually  loaded  in  freight . cars,  one  above 
another,  and  unless  packed  so  closely  that  each  head  will  keep 


Improperly  Put  Up.  Properly  Put  Up. 

Fig.  34. — Ready  for  Market. 


its  place  throughout  the  journey,  the  jar  and  the  rough  hand- 
ling always  to  be  expected  from  the  employees  of  transporta- 
tion companies  will  bring  it  into  market  in  bad  shape. 

In  hot  weather  the  barrels  should  be  ventilated  by  cutting 
holes  in  the  staves ; but  when  the  weather  grows  cool  we  pre- 
fer tight  barrels,  a sufficient  circulation  of  air  being  provided 
for  by  the  covers.  Experience  shows  that  nothing  will  cause 
them  to  wilt  so  badly  as  a cold,  dry  wind,  which  can  be  pre- 
vented from  reaching  them  by  the  tight  barrels. 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


87 


In  times  when  the  market  is  overloaded  by  an  excessive 
supply,  and  prices  are  forced  down  to  a point  which  leaves 
very  little  margin  over  transportation  and  selling  charges, 
cauliflowers  are  sold  largely  to  pickling  concerns,  who  purchase 
the  heads  by  weight,  and  load  them  in  freight  cars  or  store 
them  in  salting-houses,  which  are  established  at  convenient 
points.  For  this  purpose  the  heads  are  not  trimmed  as  for 
market,  but  cut  out  entirely  from  the  plant,  with  no  outside 
leaves  attached. 

The  prices  paid  by  pickling  men  are  always  very  low,  but 
disposing  of  a considerable  portion  of  the  crop  in  this  way 
affords  relief  to  the  over-stocked  market,  and  secures  better 
prices  for  those  marketed,  while  at  the  same  time  it  demands 
much  less  work  in  harvesting,  all  the  labor  of  trimming  and 
packing  being  unnecessary. 

In  the  village  from  which  we  write,  a salting-house  has  been 
established  by  the  efforts  of  the  farmers  themselves,  they  own- 
ing the  building  jointly  and  leasing  it  to  a pickling  company. 
Into  this  building  hundreds  of  tons  of  cauliflowers  are 
rushed  every  year  at  a time  when  the  market  is  so  glutted 
that  remunerative  prices  are  an  impossibility,  and  some  such 
outlet  as  this  forms  the  only  means  of  disposing  of  the  surplus 
stock. 

As  the  pickling  companies  always  take  advantage  of  the 
condition  of  the  market  in  making  their  purchases,  it  would 
appear  to  us  that  the  co-operative  idea  might  be  carried  still 
further  in  any  community  where  the  industry  of  growing 
cauliflowers  had  assumed  such  proportions  as  to  make  it  desir- 
able; the  growers  not  only  building  and  owning  the  salting- 
house  and  its  equipment,  as  in  the  present  case,  but  owning  and 
putting  in  the  stock  upon  some  equitable  plan  to  be  agreed 
upon  among  themselves.  In  the  following  winter  or  spring 
this  stock  could,  without  doubt,  be  marketed  at  a price  much 
more  in  keeping  with  its  actual  value,  and  the  grower  would 


88 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


not  be  forced  to  the  unfortunate  position  in  which  we  very 
frequently  find  him,  that  of  being,  from  stress  of  circumstances, 
compelled  to  accept  whatever  price  the  buyer  is  pleased  to 
offer. 

Canning  cauliflowers  cannot,  as  yet,  be  said  to  have  passed 
beyond  the  experimental  stage.  For  several  years  past  a lim- 
ited quantity  has  been  put  up  by  Long  Island  canners,  who 
say  that  they  find  no  difficulty  in  canning  the  goods,  which  is 
not  attended  with  excessive  cost,  but  that  the  article  is  not 
yet  known  in  our  markets  and  has  not  established  a reputa- 
tion which  would  lead  to  extended  sales.  As  this  vegetable 
can  be  produced  and  put  up  in  cans  at  a price  which  will 
place  it  on  a level  with  tomatoes,  green  corn,  and  other  vege- 
tables which  are  now  canned  in  immense  quantities,  it  is 
quite  probable  that  the  business  may  assume  much  greater  pro- 
portions in  the  near  future,  thereby  enabling  the  consumer  to 
secure  a supply  of  this  most  excellent  vegetable  at  all  seasons 
and  providing  for  the  grower  another  outlet  for  his  product  in 
times  of  overstocked  markets. 

Whenever  the  approach  of  cold  weather  finds  us  with  any 
considerable  quantity  of  cauliflowers  in  the  field  not  yet 
mature  enough  for  market,  we  find  that  we  can  save  them  by 
taking  them  up  with  as  much  earth  attached  to  the  roots  as 
possible  and  storing  them  in  some  place  where  hard  frosts 
will  not  be  felt,  and  they  will  have  a chance  to  grow  and 
develop  during  the  warm  days  of  early  winter.  Where  a well- 
ventilated  cellar  is  at  hand  it  makes  an  excellent  place  for  the 
purpose.  It  is  never  best  to  wait  too  long  and  allow  the  plants 
to  be  injured  by  freezing,  but,  as  the  season  becomes  so  far 
advanced  that  severe  weather  may  be  daily  expected,  it  is  best 
to  bring  all  those  having  small  heads  formed,  but  which  in  the 
natural  course  of  growth  could  not  become  mature  for  two 
weeks  or  more  at  this  late  season,  to  the  cellar  where  they  are  to 
be  stored,  standing  each  plant  upon  its  roots  and  placing  them 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


89 


as  closely  together  as  they  can  be  packed ; cutting  off  the 
tops  of  the  leaves  makes  closer  storage  possible  and  lessens 
the  liability  to  heat.  They  cannot  be  placed  in  heaps  or  one 
above  another  without  injury.  If  given  plenty  of  air  on 
warm  days  they  will  keep  for  several  weeks  and  the  small 
heads  will  grow  to  a good  size. 

If  we  have  no  cellar  room  for  this  purpose  a place  for  storage 
can  be  improvised  on  the  southern  exposure  of  some  hillside, 
which  may  be  dug  away  sufficiently  to  afford  good  protection, 
and  covered  with  a temporary  roof  made  by  placing  corn- 
stalks or  other  coarse  litter  upon  poles,  the  ends  and  sides 
being  covered  in  the  same  way  where  necessary.  Cauli- 
flowers stored  in  such  places,  and  when  protected  in  sheds  or 
other  out-buildings,  may  be  kept  well  into  the  winter  until 
the  fields  are  covered  with  ice  and  snow  and  the  market 
relieved  of  the  excessive  supplies  of  the  fall  months;  then, 
during  the  holiday  season,  very  satisfactory  prices  may  be 
realized. 

In  the  open  field  cauliflowers  will  stand  a temperature  of 
240  F.  without  injury,  and  even  20°  F.  will  do  little  damage  if 
it  be  not  long  continued.  Full-grown  heads  are  much  more 
liable  to  be  damaged  by  frost  than  the  small  ones,  and  it  is  best 
to  keep  the  field  cut  closely  and  the  small  heads  well  tied  up 
when  hard  frosts  are  to  be  expected.  If  they  become  severely 
frozen  in  the  field  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  warm 
weather  is  soon  to  follow,  it  is  best  to  allow  them  to  remain  in 
the  field  until  thawed  out,  as  injury  is  much  more  likely  to 
result  if  cut  when  frozen. 

Extended  experience  in  the  cultivation  of  any  given  crop 
should  always  lead  to  the  most  advanced  methods.  Necessity 
has  in  many  instances  led  to  the  adoption  of  devices,  simple 
in  themselves,  but  -of  great  value  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil.  One  of  the  best  markers  (Fig.  35)  I ever  saw  is  in  com- 
mon use  in  this  section,  but  as  we  have  not  seen  it  in  other 


9o 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


places  and  have  no  knowledge  of  a printed  description  of  it,  we 
will  describe  it  briefly. 

The  frame  consists  merely  of  two  two  by  four  inch  yellow 
pine  timbers,  eight  feet  four  inches  in  length ; these  timbers 
pass  through  three  runners,  through  which  mortises  have  been 
made,  the  central  one  being  fastened  firmly  in  its  place, 
exactly  in  the  center  of  the  timbers.  Holes  are  bored  in  the 


timbers  at  the  outer  ends,  and  the  outside  runners  are  moved 
to  any  desired  distance  from  the  center  and  held  in  place  by 
wooden  pins.  A pole  is  fastened  at  one  end  to  the  central 
runner,  but  so  arranged  that  it  can  be  swung  from  one  side  to 
the  other  ; to  this  a chain  is  attached  at  the  proper  distance 
from  the  row  to  serve  as  a guide  for  our  driving  on  the  return. 


LATE  CAULIFLOWER. 


91 


The  pole  by  which  the  marker  is  drawn  is  fastened  firmly  to 
one  of  the  timbers,  which  are  braced  from  the  central  run- 
ner. The  runners  are  made  of  two  by  eight-inch  timber  and 
will  last  longer  if  shod  with  iron.  If  a deep  mark  is  re- 
quired, the  driver  rides,  but  for  setting  plants  the  mark  will 
be  deep  enough  without  his  weight.  In  driving,  the  pole 
between  the  horses  is  each  time  kept  directly  over  the  guide 
mark  made  by  the  chain.  Three  rows  are  marked  each  time, 


Fig.  36. 


and  the  distance  between  the  rows  is  varied,  as  required,  from 
2 y?  to  4 feet. 

A very  convenient  arrangement  for  carrying  barrels  of 
garden  truck  upon  the  ordinary  farm  wagon  is  made  by  tak- 
ing off  the  box,  lengthening  the  reach,  using  long  planks  for 
the  bottom,  and  fastening  a long  1 y2  inch  plank,  about  five 
inches  wide,  on  each  side  outside  the  stud-staffs,  by  means  of 
heavy  staples.  This  secures  both  greater  width  and  length, 
and  will  double  the  carrying  capacity  of  the  wagon. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


PROFIT  AND  LOSS. 

I should  be  stepping  far  out  of  the  path  which  writers  upon 
similar  subjects  have  chosen  if  I did  not  close  with  an  elab- 
orate showing  of  the  profits  to  be  expected  in  dollars  and 
cents.  I approach  this  subject  with  a full  realization  ofi  the 
fact  that  the  value  of  any  previous  calculation  of  profits  upon 
the  crops  of  farm  or  garden  is  exceedingly  problematical. 
To  all  of  us  it  must  be  apparent  that  the  merchant  or  manu- 
facturer can  calculate  the  cost  of  his  goods  with  a certainty 
which  is  an  impossibility  to  the  cultivator  of  the  soil.  Who 
can  tell  the  cost  of  cultivating  a crop  when  so  much  depends 
upon  the  effect  of  rain  or  sunshine  ? Who  can  discount,  in 
proper  measure,  the  ravages  of  insect  enemies,  which  we  are 
powerless  to  resist  ? Who  can  foretell  the  condition  of  the 
market  at  that  particular  time  when  our  goods  must  be 
marketed  ? 

But  notwithstanding  the  element  of  uncertainty  which  en- 
ters into  every  calculation  of  the  tiller  of  the  soil,  we  believe 
that  some  estimate  of  the  cost  of  growing  every  crop  should 
first  be  made  before  we  actually  begin  the  work  of  growing 
it ; then,  knowing  the  probable  cost  of  our  produce,  and 
knowing  as  well  the  probabilities  and  possibilities  of  the 
market  in  which  we  are  to  sell  the  goods,  we  should  be  able 
to  judge  intelligently  of  the  advisability  of  their  cultivation. 

92 


PROFIT  AND  LOSS. 


93 


ESTIMATED  COST  PER  ACRE  OF  A CROP  OF  EARLY  CAB- 
BAGE. 


Growing  and  wintering  11,500  plants, $22 

Rent  of  land, 10 

Manure  or  fertilizer,  including  application, 50 

Plowing,  harrowing,  and  marking, 8 

Setting  plants, 4 

Cultivating,  hoeing,  etc., 12 

Harvesting  and  preparing  for  market, 15 

Total  expense, #121 


To  enable  us  to  understand  this  estimate  more  fully  we 
might  look  at  it  a little  more  in  detail.  The  first  item,  plac- 
ing the  cost  of  11,500  plants  at  $22,  should  be  sufficient  to 
cover  the  cost  of  seed,  growing  and  wintering  the  plants, 
which,  with  most  gardeners,  should  range  from  #1.50  to  $2 
per  thousand.  Our  liberality  in  the  next  estimate,  of  $10  for 
the  use  of  one  acre,  would  depend  upon  the  situation  of  the 
grower ; if  located  where  land  is  very  valuable  this  estimate 
is  not  high  enough,  but  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  this 
land  is  not  occupied  during  the  entire  season,  the  cabbage 
being  removed  in  ample  time  to  admit  of  the  planting  of 
some  fall  crop ; this  estimate  is,  therefore,  more  liberal  than 
would  at  first  appear.  The  estimate  for  fertilizers  will  admit 
of  liberal  treatment,  and  so  will  the  items  following,  which 
cover  the  labor  of  securing  the  crop.  Our  estimate  for  har- 
vesting and  preparing  for  market  does  not  include  the  ex- 
pense of  transportation  and  making  sales,  but  is  intended  only 
to  cover  the  cost  of  harvesting  and  preparing  for  market  upon 
the  farm. 

If  the  estimates  be  correct,  we  find  that  we  can  grow  an 
acre  of  early  cabbages  for  $121.  It  is  but  fair  to  allow  10  per 
cent,  or  more  for  loss  from  various  causes,  but  under  reason- 
ably favorable  conditions  we  ought  to  secure  10,000  heads 
from  the  11,500  plants  set;  the  cost  of  10,000  heads  being 
$121,  would  be  1. 2 1,  or,  to  make  still  further  allowance  for 


94 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


possibilities,  say  i^,  cents  each.  By  adding  an  allowance  for 
freight  and  commission  and  crediting  our  crop  with  10,000 
heads,  at  such  prices  as  we  frequently  find  in  market  quota- 
tions, we  might  be  able  to  figure  out  a very  handsome  profit 
on  the  acre ; but  we  think  best  to  leave  this  part  of  the  calcu- 
lation to  each  individual  reader.  Knowing  that  he  can 
reasonably  expect  to  grow  early  cabbages  at  about  1%  cents 
a head,  and  knowing  his  own  transportation  facilities  and  the 
possibilities  of  his  own  market,  he  should  be  able  to  figure 
for  himself,  much  better  than  any  one  can  figure  for  him,  the 
profit  he  could  reasonably  expect. 

rv/ 

ESTIMATE  OF  THE  COST  OF  AN  ACRE  OF  EARLY 
CAULIFLOWERS. 


Growing  and  wintering  7300  plants, #15 

Manure  or  fertilizer,  including  application, 60 

Rent  of  land, 10 

Plowing,  harrowing,  and  marking, 8 

Setting  plants, 3 

Cultivating,  hoeing,  etc.,  10 

Harvesting  and  preparing  for  market,  . % 25 

Total  expense,  . $131 

Estimated  product  of  I acre  of  early  cauliflowers,  . . no  barrels 
Cost,  per  barrel,  on  farm  ready  for  shipment, #1.19 


ESTIMATED  COST  OF  GROWING  ONE  ACRE  OF  LATE 
CABBAGES. 


Rent  of  land, 

Fertilizer, 

Plowing,  harrowing,  etc., 

Growing  8000  plants,  including  seed, 

Setting  plants, 

Cultivating,  hoeing,  etc., 

Harvesting  and  preparing  for  market, 


#10 

35 

8 

8 

3 


10 

12 


Total  cost, 


$86 


Allowing  liberally  for  possible  contingencies,  we  ought  to 
secure,  with  such  treatment,  at  least  7000  heads  from  8000 
plants,  which  makes  the  cost  per  head  iff  cents. 


PROFIT  AND  LOSS. 


95 


ESTIMATED  COST  OF  ONE  ACRE  OF  LATE  CAULIFLOWERS. 


Rent  of  land, 

Fertilizer, 

Plowing,  harrowing,  etc., 

5000  plants,  including  seed,  .... 

Setting  plants, 

Cultivating,  hoeing,  etc., 

Harvesting  and  preparing  for  market, 


#10 

35 

8 


3 

8 

25 


Total  cost, $99 

Estimated  product,  120  barrels. 

Cost,  per  barrel,  ready  for  shipment, 82^  cts. 


Any  one  unfamiliar  with  the  cauliflower  crop  will  be  sur- 
prised at  the  difference  in  our  estimate  of  yield  between  the 
early  and  late  crops,  as  in  one  instance  we  have  estimated 
the  product  of  7300  plants  at  no  barrels,  and  in  the  other 
that  of  5000  plants  at  120  barrels;  but  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  for  the  late  crop  it  is  the  usual  custom  to  use  a 
larger  variety,  which,  given  more  room,  produces  larger  heads. 
And  this,  combined  with  the  greater  difficulty  experienced 
in  growing  the  early  crop,  renders  our  first  estimate  as  liberal 
as  the  second.  Crops  of  from  150  to  175' barrels  of  cauli- 
flowers are  by  no  means  rare ; but  our  purpose  here  is  to  make 
the  estimate  a safe  one  as  a basis  for  future  calculations,  and 
we  do  not  wish  to  place  it  so  high  as  to  be  misleading. 

With  proper  care  and  attention  both  of  these  crops  are 
profitable,  and  yet  we  feel  inclined  to  add  a final  word  of 
warning.  Do  not  embark  extensively  into  the  cultivation 
of  these  crops  in  the  expectation  of  becoming  wealthy. 

We  have  known  many  instances  where  the  net  profits  of  the 
cabbage  and  cauliflower  crops  have  been  sufficient  to  purchase 
the  land  upon  which  they  were  grown,  and  many  a man  in  the 
locality  from  which  I write  rejoices  in  the  ownership  of  a 
home  and  farm  made  possible  by  their  cultivation,  and  yet  the 
average  profits  are  not  excessive.  It  is  much  better  to  begin 
upon  a small  scale  and  find  out  by  experience  the  require- 


96 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


ments  of  our  markets,  the  adaptability  of  different  varieties 
to  our  soil  and  climate,  and  what  difficulties  stand  in  the  way 
of  growing  the  crop  at  such  prices  as  our  markets  afford. 
Then,  with  more  extended  experience  and  a complete  knowl- 
edge of  our  own  local  conditions,  we  may  extend  our  plant- 
ings to  the  full  limit  of  our  facilities. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 

I.  It  is  by  no  means  my  purpose  to  undertake  a full  descrip- 
tion of  the  many  varieties  which  at  present  comprise  the  list. 

The  extended  descriptions  printed  in  the  seed  catalogues  of 
the  present  day  render  such  work  unnecessary,  and  the  con- 
stant introduction  of  new  sorts  would  make  it  of  little  perma- 
nent value.  As  long  as  any  money  is  to  be  made  by  the  intro- 
duction of  new  varieties  they  will  be  introduced,  even  if  every 
point  of  distinction  emanates  from  the  imaginative  brain  of 
the  enterprising  seedsman  and  the  seed  sold  comes  from  the 
same  old  cabbage.  Re-naming  old  varieties  has  apparently 
become  a part  of  the  business  of  the  seedsman,  and,  while  we 
may  become  a trifle  mystified  by  his  elaborate  description  and 
illustration,  and  possibly  a little  disgusted  because  we  find  we 
have  purchased,  at  an  extravagant  price,  an  old  favorite  under 
a new  name,  we  cannot  regard  it  as  an  unmixed  evil. 

The  influence  of  new  introductions  is,  after  all,  toward  im- 
provement, and  even  when  an  old  sort  is  knowingly  sent  out 
under  a new  name,  care  is  taken  to  secure  the  best  strain  of 
seed  for  the  purpose,  and,  by  this  means,  many  a man,  led  to 
purchase  by  a fascinating  name,  secures  seed  which  is  better 
than  that  which  otherwise  might  have  been  purchased,  even 
though  it  actually  be  but  the  same  old  sort.  The  benefits 
arising  from  the  introduction  of  anything  which  is  really  good 
are  so  far-reaching  and  so  large  in  proportion  to  the  actual  ex- 
penditure of  money  for  the  purchase  of  seed,  that  we  have  come 
7 97 


98 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


to  regard  this  practice  as  working  more  good  than  evil  to  the 
gardening  world. 

The  introduction  of  new  varieties,  or  new  strains  of  old 
varieties,  seems  to  be  a necessity,  also,  from  the  fact  that  old 
strains,  when  cultivated  successively,  appear  to  deteriorate,  or 
‘ ‘ run  out,”  as  the  farmer  would  say.  To-day  you  may  pass 
over  hundreds  of  acres  of  cauliflowers  and  not  find  one  single 
plant  of  that  variety  which,  ten  years  ago,  was  the  favorite  on 
every  farm ; while  the  popular  sort  of  to-day,  which  we  find 
everywhere,  and  is  the  grower’s  main  reliance,  is  a good  strain 
of  an  old  variety  which  came  to  us  under  a new  name. 

It  is,  indeed,  well  worth  while  to  purchase  a new  introduc- 
tion if  we  can  feel  reasonably  sure  that  we  are  purchasing  some- 
thing good.  It  matters  little  what  means  have  been  adopted 
to  secure  improvement  so  long  as  improvement  has  actually 
been  secured.  We  know,  of  course,  that  the  actual  origina- 
tion of  a new  plant  is  entirely  beyond  man’s  power.  He  can 
hybridize  and,  by  a series  of  selection,  fix,  to  a great  extent, 
certain  features  which  he  desires  to  perpetuate  upon  the  hybrid ; 
or  he  can  find,  among  old  sorts,  specimens  which  are  appar- 
ently sports  yet  may  possess  desirable  qualities  of  their  own, 
and  these  he  may  establish  and  improve  upon  by  means  of  the 
same  series  of  selection,  which  seems  to  be  the  only  means  at 
hand  whereby  the  desired  improvement  can  be  attained. 

But  further  than  this  he  cannot  go,  and  anything  absolutely 
new  is  hardly  to  be  looked  for.  Neither  is  it  probable  that  at 
this  day  we  shall  be  greatly  benefited  by  the  discovery  of  new 
forms  in  the  vegetable  world.  To  us  the  greatest  benefits  are 
likely  to  be  attained  by  that  work  which  aims  at  the  improve- 
ment of  existing  sorts. 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


99 


VARIETIES  OF  CABBAGE. 

For  the  purpose  of  the  market  gardener  we  think  cabbages 
may  best  be  considered  under  four  classes,  which  are  divided 
with  reference  to  their  seasons  of  maturity  into  Early , Second 
Early , Intermediate,  and  Late. 

The  earliest  varieties  all  produce  heads  of  a conical  form. 
This  seems  to  be  Nature’s  law,  and,  while  many  attempts  have 
been  made  to  establish  flat  or  round  heading  sorts  which  will 
mature  as  quickly,  the  effort  has,  up  to  the  present  time,  been 
unsuccessful.  In  the  mind  of  the  writer  there  is  no  question 
but  that  the  Early  Jersey  Wakefield  is  the  best  early  cabbage 
for  the  general  purposes  of  the  market  gardener. 

An  effort  has  been  made  to  establish  three  distinct  strains 
of  the  Jersey  Wakefield.  In  one  case  the  element  of  early 
maturity  was,  in  a measure,  sacrificed  to  size,  and  the  result 
was  given  to  the  gardener  in  the  introduction  of  the  Large 
or  Charleston  Wakefield.  It  may  be  said  that  this  strain  is 
larger  and  somewhat  later  than  the  parent  stock,  and  we  note 
more  variation  in  the  leaf  and  coloring  of  the  leaves.  It  is  a 
sure-heading  strain  and  desirable  to  any  one  who  desires  the 
increased  size  at  the  expense  of  a few  days’  time  in  earliness. 

The  effort  to  establish  an  extra  early  strain  of  this  popular 
cabbage  has  not  been  entirely  successful.  Here  size  was 
sacrificed  and  selection  made  from  the  very  earliest  specimens, 
which  are  frequently  the  smallest.  As  a result,  we  find  this 
strain  not  only  small  but  rather  too  finely  bred  and  lacking 
in  vitality,  vigor,  and  hardiness,  it  succumbs  more  readily  to 
unfavorable  conditions,  and  is  more  sensitive  to  the  attacks 
of  its  natural  enemies  than  the  regular  strain,  while  the  claim 
of  earlier  maturity  is  but  doubtfully  established. 

The  true  Early  Jersey  Wakefield  usually  sold  as  Select 
or  Selected  Early  Jersey  Wakefield,  is  early,  reliable  about 
heading,  and  very  uniform ; the  leaves  are  dark  green  in 


IOO 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


color  and  very  thick,  and  the  stem  short.  The  plant  is  a 
vigorous  grower,  very  hardy,  enabling  the  gardener  to  carry 
it  through  the  winter  with  ordinary  care,  and  seems  to  pos- 
sess, in  a marked  degree,  the  essential  elements  of  a typical 
early  cabbage.  Its  greatest  fault  is  the  cracking  of  the  heads 
as  soon  as  they  mature,  a feature  which  makes  it  impossible  to 
hold  the  crop  for  any  length  of  time  after  maturity.  Notwith- 
standing this  fault  the  Early  Jersey  Wakefield, 
for  more  than  20  years,  has  been  the 
popular  first  early  cabbage,  and  is  to- 
day more  extensively  grown  for 
market  than  any  other 
early  variety. 


Fig.  37. — Early  Jersey  Wakefield. 

Etampes  and  Early  Express*  are  two  new  French 

sorts  so  closely  resembling  each  other  as  to  make  a separate 
description  unnecessary.  These  two  varieties  have  been  ex- 
tensively advertised  as  the  earliest  of  all,  and  we  have  usually 
found  that  a few  heads  can  be  secured  from  them  before  the 
Wakefield.  For  practical  purposes,  however,  we  do  not  think 
them  so  desirable ; the  heads  are  not  so  large  and  lack  the 
solidity  characteristic  of  the  Early  Wakefield,  while  the  con- 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


IOI 


stitution  of  the  plant  does  not  appear  to  be  so  strong  and 
vigorous.  The  best  strains  of  these  two  sorts  are  very  true 
and  head  up  uniformly  and  well,  and  were  the  claim  of 
extreme  earliness  well  established  they  might  be  found  very 
desirable  in  many  instances,  but  we  usually  find  that  although 
we  can  find  heads  among  them  in  advance  of  the  Early 
Wakefield,  we  are  unable  to  market  the  general  crop  any 
earlier,  while  the  disadvantages  above  spoken  of  render  their 
extended  use  in  the  market  garden  rather  improbable. 


Fig.  38.— New  Extra  Early  Express. 


Second  Early  Cabbages. 

Recent'years  have  seen  many  additions  to  the  list  of  second 
early  cabbages,  most  of  which  have  been  excellent.  To 
attempt  to  describe  all  of  them  would  take  more  time  than  we 
have  at  our  command,  and  we  desire  to  consider  them  collect- 
ively rather  than  individually,  making  mention  incidentally 
of  a few  of  the  most  prominent  sorts  of  the  present  time. 

The  typical  second  early  cabbage  is  one  which  combines 
•the  essential  features  of  early  maturity,  size,  and  reliability  of 
heading.  Earliness  is  desirable  because  the  cabbage  is  used  to 


102 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


follow  closely  after  our  earliest  sorts  in  the  markets,  but,  as 
this  quality  is  opposed  to  size,  we  would  prefer  a variety 
which  made  some  concession  in  earliness  in  order  to  secure 
good-sized  heads.  The  claim  made  for  some  of  the  recent 
introductions  in  the  second  class,  that  they  are  just  as  early  as 
the  Wakefield  and  twice  the  size,  is  hardly  worthy  of  consid- 
eration. 

All  of  the  second  early  sorts  of  the  flat  and  round-headed 
types  have  an  important  place  in  our  fields,  but  that  place 
will  not  be  found  in  supplanting  the  early  varieties.  They 
are  entirely  distinct  in  character,  and  their  place  is  to  follow 
the  early  sorts  with  a larger  head  of  different  shape,  which 
packs  closer  for  transportation  and,  as  a rule,  commands 
better  prices  than  the  pointed  heads  of  the  earliest  sorts.  In 
the  matter  of  size  we  regard  with  most  favor  in  this  class  that 
strain  which  gives  us  good-sized  heads  without  excessive 
growth  of  plant.  With  most  gardeners  economy  of  space  is 
an  important  consideration,  and  the  rule  is  to  plant  thickly. 
This  is  folly  with  any  variety  which  makes  a strong  growth  of 
outside  leaves,  as  overcrowding  results  in  various  deformities 
and  lessens  rather  than  increases  the  product ; but  where  a 
strain  of  seed  has  been  bred  to  produce  heads  of  good  size 
with  comparatively  small  outside  growth,  close  planting  can 
be  adopted  with  profit. 

The  greatest  difficulty  experienced  in  growing  the  second 
early  sorts,  when  the  plants  are  carried  over  the  winter  in 
cold  frames,  or  in  milder  climates  where  they  will  live  out-of- 
doors  during  the  winter  months,  arises  from  a tendency  to 
run  to  seed,  which  is  quite  common  to  all  these  varieties. 
Where  growth  is  continuous  from  the  time  of  sowing  the  seed 
until  maturity  no  difficulty  will  be  experienced,  and  it  is  not 
likely  to  be  found  where  growth  is  only  occasionally  checked 
by  unusual  cold,  but  where  the  plants  stand  for  weeks  practi- 
cally at  a standstill,  as  they  do  in  northern  cold  frames  or 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


I03 


throughout  the  northern  sections  of  the  Southern  States, 
where  the  winters  do  not  kill  but  render  growth  impossible, 
the  tendency  to  seed  is  much  more  marked  in  the  second 
early  than  in  the  earliest  sorts.  For  this  reason  the  seed  of 
these  cabbages  should  not  be  planted  for  cold  frames  until  ten 
days  or  two  weeks  later  than  the  early  varieties,  in  which  event 
the  danger  of  the  plants  seeding,  when  growth  begins  in  the 
spring,  is  much  diminished,  or  we  can  use  hot-bed  plants 
with  safety. 


Fig.  39. — Henderson's  Early  Summer. 


Henderson’s  Early  Summer. — This  variety  is  one  of 
our  most  popular  second  early  sorts.  It  is  a strain  of  Newark 
Early  Flat  Dutch,  first  introduced  by  Peter  Henderson  & Co., 
and,  through  extensive  advertising,  has  become  so  well  and 
favorably  known  under  this  name  as  almost  to  have  superseded 
the  old  strain.  In  point  of  maturity  it  is  about  ten  days  later 
than  the  Early  Wakefield.  The  best  strains  are  very  true  in 
color  (a  bluish  shade  of  green),  and  their  habit  of  growth  is 
compact,  with  few  outside  leaves;  it  heads  up  with  the 
greatest  regularity,  nearly  every  plant  producing  a good,  hard 


104 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


head,  and  all  approaching  maturity  at  nearly  the  same  time. 
It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  there  always  has  been, 
even  in  the  very  best  strains,  a tendency  to  produce  heads 
which  are  pointed,  or  nearly  so,  and  which  are  not  desirable, 
and  the  best  efforts  of  our  seed  growers  have,  so  far,  failed  to 
entirely  eliminate  them.  This  must  be  considered  its  greatest 
fault. 

Burpee’s  Allhead  Early  (Fig.  40).— This  is  one  of 
the  most  recent  introductions  and  commends  itself  to  the 
gardener  as  one  of  the  very  best  of  the  second  earlies.  It  is 


rather  larger  than  the  Early  Summer,  and  this  increase  in 
size  has  apparently  been  gained  without  lengthening  the  season 
of  growth,  as  we  do  not  find  any  material  loss  in  earliness.  It 
is  a sure-heading  strain,  very  uniform  in  size,  color,  and  habit 
of  growth,  and  well  merits  its  popularity. 

Henderson’s  Succession  (Fig.  41). — This  is  a trifle 
later  than  the  two  sorts  above  mentioned,  and  is  valuable  as 
an  intermediate  as  well  as  a second  early  sort.  It  is  deservedly 
popular,  producing  solid,  flat  heads  of  excellent  quality ; the 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES.  I05 

growth  is  strong  and  vigorous  and  the  plant  heads  uniformly 
and  well. 


Intermediate  Sorts. 

We  class  as  intermediate  those  sorts  which,  in  season  of 
maturity  follow  the  second  earlies.  Their  place  is  an  impor- 
tant one  for,  not  only  can  they  be  used  to  follow  the  second 
earlies  in  the  markets,  but  it  frequently  happens  that  in  the 


Fig.  41.— Henderson’s  Succession. 


rush  of  work  incidental  to  the  busy  season  the  planting  of 
seed  has  been  too  long  delayed  to  allow  a late  variety  to 
mature  before  cold  weather,  and  we  find  that,  by  planting  the 
intermediate  sorts,  we  have  yet  time  to  obtain  a good  crop, 
while  the  difference  in  yield  is  so  small  as  to  be  of  no  great 
importance.  These  sorts  are  seldom  used  for  the  first  plant- 
ings, the  seed,  as  a rule,  being  planted  in  hotbeds  for  first 
sowing,  and  later  in  the  open  ground. 


io6 


cabbage  and  cauliflower. 


All  Seasons  (Fig.  42). — This  is  a most  excellent  inter- 
mediate sort  of  strong  growth  and  excellent  heading  capacity. 
As  first  introduced  it  presented  considerable  diversity  of  type, 
but  this  has  been  largely  corrected  in  the  best  strains  of  the 
present  time.  This  sort  will  stand  long  in  the  field  after 
maturity  without  bursting  open,  which,  in  some  instances,  is  a 
very  desirable  feature.  The  heads  are  large  and  deep,  flattened 


at  the  top,  and  are  of  excellent  quality,  and  we  have  found  it 
one  of  the  best  winter  keepers. 

Louisville  Drumhead  (Fig.  43). — The  true  strain  of 
this  cabbage  possesses  all  the  qualities  of  a most  excellent  in- 
termediate sort.  In  season  of  maturity  it  is  with  the  All  Sea- 
sons and  about  two  weeks  later  than  the  Early  Summer.  In 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


107 


color  it  is  quite  distinct,  being  of  a dark  bluish  shade  of  green. 
The  plant  is  of  dwarf  habit,  but  produces  heads  of  compara- 
tively large  size, — in  fact,  we  know  of  no  cabbage  which  will 
produce  heads  so  large  in  comparison  to  the  growth  of  plant. 
It  also  seems  to  possess  the  power  of  resisting  the  attacks  of 
insect  enemies,  and  will,  in  many  instances,  give  crops  under 
conditions  where  other  sorts  fail.  It  heads  well  in  hot,  dry 
weather,  and  is,  withal,  a valuable  sort.  We  note  with 
regret,  however,  that  other  sorts  have  sometimes  been  substi- 


Fig.  43. — Louisville  Drumhead. 


tuted  and  sold  under  this  name,  leading  to  confusion,  and,  in 
many  instances,  to  disappointment,  and,  without  doubt,  to 
some  degree  detracting  from  the  reputation  it  would  otherwise 
have  established. 

Fottler’s  Brunswick  (Fig.  44). — This  is  one  of  the 
older  sorts  which  still  retains  its  popularity.  Its  distinctive 
features  are  a very  short  stem,  a decidedly  flat  head,  and  the 
peculiar  spoon-like  form  assumed  by  the  leaves.  Without 
doubt  a good  strain  of  Fottler’s  Brunswick  is  an  excellent 


io8 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


cabbage  and  in  some  localities  it  is  very  highly  valued,  but  it 
must  be  admitted  that  a tendency  to  form  rosettes  appears  to 
be  natural  to  it,  and  while  a very  large  proportion  of  them 


Fig.  44.— Fottler’s  Early,  or  Short -Stem  Drumhead. 


form  good,  solid  heads,  it  is  never  entirely  free  from  this  im- 
perfection. It  is  a little  later  than  the  other  intermediate  sorts 
mentioned,  but  earlier  than  the  late  varieties;  of  compact 
habit  but  a strong  grower.  A number  of  strains  of  this  cab- 
bage have  been  developed  and  sent  out  under  various  natties. 

Warren’s  Stone  Mason  is  somewhat  earlier  than  the 
late  sorts,  and  therefore  may  be  classed  as  an  intermediate.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  thoroughbred  sorts  we  have  and  the  hardest 
heading  variety  among  the  green  cabbages.  It  is  a light  green 
in  color,  growing  very  true  to  type,  the  only  variation  being  in 
the  shape  of  the  heads,  which  grow  both  round  and  flat. 
Under  favorable  conditions  almost  every  plant  will  produce  a 
very  solid  head  of  unusual  weight  in  comparison  to  its  size. 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  constitution  of  the  plant  is  not 
robust  and  it  is  one  of  the  first  to  succumb  to  unfavorable 
conditions. 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


I09 


Late  Cabbages. 

The  ideal  late  cabbage  is  one  which  combines  in  greatest 
degree  strong,  vigorous  growth  and  sure-heading  capacity 
with  good  table  and  keeping  qualities.  The  list  is  a long  one, 
comprising  many  names,  and  yet  nearly  all  the  prominent 
sorts  are  but  selections  of  the  Late  Flat  Dutch  and  Drumhead 
stocks,  differing  from  the  parent  strains  according  to  the  ideas 
followed  in  their  development  and  the  success  met  with  in 
carrying  out  these  ideas.  So  many  names  have  been  given  to 
these  sorts,  and  the  substitution  of  one  for  another  is  so  com- 
mon, as  to  lead  to  confusion  of  varieties  in  the  mind  of  the 
average  gardener,  and  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  find  even 
close  observers  who  will  insist  that  there  is  no  difference  what- 
ever between  the  two  strains  of  late  cabbage  known  as  the  Flat 
Dutch  and  Drumhead  stocks.  With  this  conclusion  we  are  com- 
pelled to  differ,  and  must  insist  that  there  is  not  only  a technical, 
but  a practical  difference,  and  one  which  it  is  desirable  to  main- 
tain. It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  in  the  very  best  strains 
of  Drumhead  we  are  able  to  find  specimens  which,  in  all  re- 
spects, seem  to  be  typical  Flat  Dutch,  while  Drumheads  among 
the  Flat  Dutch  stocks  are  by  no  means  uncommon.  And  yet 
we  think  that  the  line  between  the  two  may  be  clearly  drawn 
and  followed  with  reasonable  exactness  throughout  the  entire 
list  of  late  and  intermediate  sorts. 

In  the  Flat  Dutch  varieties  the  ideal  type  gives  strong  but 
not  excessive  growth ; a head  thick,  but  decidedly  flattened 
on  top ; a leaf  but  slightly  blistered,  with  the  outer  edges 
nearly  smooth  or  presenting  only  a slightly  ruffled  appearance  ; 
in  color  the  foliage  assumes  a bluish  cast. 

In  the  late  Drumheads  we  find  a more  vigorous  growth  of 
outside  leaf,  a brighter  green  in  the  color  of  the  foliage,  a 
more  distinctly  ruffled  appearance  to  the  edges  of  the  leaves, 
and  the  heads  assume  a rounder  form.  The  Drumheads  are 


no 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


the  larger  of  the  two  stocks.  It  is  true  that  among  late  cab- 
bages we  frequently  find  plants  which  possess  the  character  of 
both  stocks,  the  smoother  leaf  of  the  Flat  Dutch  being  some- 
times combined  with  the  rounder  head  of  the  Drumhead,  while 
others  have  unquestionably  originated  from  one  stock  and  been 
changed  by  breeding  to  such  an  extent  as  to  assume  the  char- 
acter of  the  other.  For  instance,  Burpee’s  Surehead  (Fig. 
45)  is,  no  doubt,  a cabbage  of  Flat  Dutch  parentage  which,  by 

selection,  has  come 
to  assume  so  much 
of  the  Drumhead 
character  that  we 
now  consider  it  a 
cabbage  of  the 
Drumhead  type. 

We  know  that 
many  of  our  gar- 
dening friends  will 
be  disposed  to  think 
that  such  points  of 
difference  as  we 
have  mentioned  are 
of  little  or  no  con- 
sequence in  the  cul- 
tivation of  their 
fields,  but  let  us 
look  a little  closer  and  see  if  this  technical  knowledge  of 
varieties  cannot  be  applied  to  the  practical  part  of  our  busi- 
ness. If,  for  instance,  we  are  growing  cabbages  to  be  sold 
in  the  city  markets,  the  Flat  Dutch  strains  are  most  desir- 
able, as  they  present  a rather  better  appearance,  pack  to 
better  advantage  in  barrels,  and  are  usually  preferred  by 
purchasers.  On  the  other  hand,  if  we  are  growing  them 
for  the  pickling  establishments,  where  they  are  sold  by  the 


Fig.  45. — Burpee’s  Surehead. 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


Ill 


ton  (an  industry  of.  no  small  proportions  at  the  present  time), 
we  should  prefer  the  Drumhead  varieties,  as  a given  bulk  will 
certainly  weigh  more  than  the  same  bulk  of  Flat  Dutch. 

Besides  numerous  varieties  offered  under  other  names,  we 
have  three  strains  of  the  Flat  Dutch  : Excelsior,  which  is  a 
little  in  advance  of  the  others  in  point  of  maturity,  and  very 
uniform  and  well  bred  ; Premium,  a medium  and  very  reliable 
sort  for  main  crop ; and  the  Large  Late,  which  is  later  and 
larger  than  the 
others. 

Among  the  Drum- 
heads we  are  much 
impressed  with  the 
value  of  a strain 
called  Premium 
Late  Drumhead, 
which,  for  our  pur- 
pose, appears  to 
combine  many  val- 
uable features. 

Both  the  Savoy 
and  the  Red  cab- 
bages may  be  Fig.  46 —Burpee’s  Superior  Large  Late  Flat  Dutch, 
classed  as  late  sorts, 

although  there  are  strains  of  each  which  mature  as  early  as 
some  of  the  intermediates;  these  strains,  however,  produce 
such  small  heads  that  they  have  never  found  much  favor. 
We  wonder  exceedingly  that  more  Savoy  cabbage  is  not 
grown  as  a late  or  winter  cabbage.  It  is  true  that  some 
of  the  old  sorts  were  unreliable  and  very  small,  but  the  newer 
introductions  head  with  as  great  regularity  as  most  cabbages, 
are  excellent  keepers,  and  of  the  finest  flavor.  Perfection 
Drumhead  is  finely  curled,  sure  heading,  and  excellent  in  all 
respects.  Marvin’s  is  larger  but  hardly  as  well  curled. 


II 2 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


Marvin’s  Savoy  Cabbage. — Tested  at  the  New  York 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  this  new  strain  of  Drumhead 
Savoy  Cabbage  was  reported  on  as  follows : ‘ ‘ Twelve  plants 

transplanted  June  23d.  Fit  for  table  use  August  29th.  Num- 
ber of  heads,  1 2 ; average  diameter,  8^  inches ; average 
weight,  5 pounds  1 4 ounces.  ’ ’ This  was  the  only  variety  they 
made  a special  mention  of,  and  said  : “ Among  those  deserv- 

ing of  special  mention  was  Marvin’s  Savoy,  of  which  the 


Fig.  47.— Marvin’s  Savoy. — Engraved  from  a Photograph. 


heads  were  very  large,  and  nearly  as  compact  as  those  of  the 
more  solid,  smooth-leaved  varieties.” 

Savoy  cabbages,  as  you  are  doubtless  aware,  are  all  of  very 
sweet  flavor  and  are  really  superior  for  cooking. 

Red  cabbages  are  in  demand  for  pickling  during  the  late 
fall  and  early  winter  months,  at  which  season  they  can  usually 
be  disposed  of  to  good  advantage.  It  is  not  advisable  to 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


”3 

keep  them  till  spring,  and  if  not  disposed  of  during  the  fall 
they  should  be  stored  in  the  manner  recommended  for  early 
winter  use.  Mammoth  Rock  Red  is  a great  favorite,  pro- 
ducing large,  solid  heads,  true  to  color  and  reliable  about 
heading. 

Burpee’s  Safe-Crop  Cabbage  (Fig.  48)  is  a large,  late 
strain  of  market  gardener’s  cabbage,  which  is  sure  to  head. 
The  heads  are  of  large  size,  hard  and  firm,  with  but  few  outside 
leaves;  stems  short,  foliage  compact,  and  of  a beautiful  green 


Fig.  48.— Burpee’s  Safe-Crop  Cabbage. 


color.  The  plants  are  thrifty,  easily  transplanted ; set  in  rows 
three  feet  apart  and  two  feet  in  the  rows  to  admit  of  cultiva- 
tion. It  is  a very  desirable  variety  for  a late  crop  on  account 
of  its  solidity,  and  because  it  is  an  excellent  winter  keeper.  It 
also  stands  a considerable  time  without  bursting.  In  quality 
it  is  not  quite  equal  to  Burpee’s  Surehead  as  a summer  cab- 
bage, being  slightly  strong,  but  it  improves  as  the  season  ad- 
vances, making  a winter  cabbage  hard  to  equal.  The  thick, 
flat  heads  are  remarkably  uniform  in  color,  as  well  as  in  shape 
8 


1 14  CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 

and  size ; it  is  a rapid  grower  and  well  repays  good  cultivation. 
It  is  very  tender  and  juicy  at  all  stages  of  growth,  cares  little 
for  the  worms,  and  will  stand  a hot,  dry  time  remarkably 
well. 

Burpee’s  World-Beater  Cabbage. — This  new  cab- 
bage (which  was  procured  from  Francis  Brill)  originated  near 
Hoboken,  in  Hudson  County,  N.  J.,  and  well  deserves  the 
name  World-Beater,  for  never  before  have  we  seen  any  cab- 
bage that  produces  such  uniformly  large  heads,  or  any  very 


large  cabbage  in  which  the  heads  were  so  hard  and  solid.  We 
predict  that  in  a few  years  the  Marblehead  Mammoth  will  be 
discarded,  for  not  only  is  World-Beater  fully  as  large,  if  not 
larger,  but  also  it  is  uniformly  true  to  type  and  sure  to  head 
hard — “ solid  as  a rock.  ” The  large,  broad  heads  are  very 
thick  through,  rounded  at  the  top  ; fine  grained  and  tender, — 
more  so  than  any  other  very  large  cabbage.  Stalk  short, 
foliage  compact,  dark  green  with  a purplish-brown  tinge.  It 
is  a rapid  grower,  and  does  not  require  special  culture  to 
develop. 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


XI5 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  enter  further  into  the  description 
of  varieties,  but  we  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  a hope  that 
the  fact  that  many  excellent  varieties  are  not  mentioned  here 
will  not  be  construed  as  an  effort  on  our  part  to  detract  from 
their  merits.  We  have  always  been  impressed  with  the  influ- 
ence of  local  climatic  conditions  upon  different  varieties,  and 
regard  the  experience  of  the  grower  in  his  own  locality  as  the 
safest  guide.  The  opinions  of  a grower  in  New  York  are  of 
doubtful  value  to  a grower  in  Florida  or  Canada,  and  these 
notes  on  varieties  are  appended,  not  so  much  to  influence  his 
selection  of  sorts,  as  in  the  hope  that  some  of  our  suggestions 
may  be  valuable  when  supplemented  by  the  conclusions  which 
his  own  practical  experience  gives.  As  one  year  follows 
another  new  varieties  will  come  and  old  ones  go.  Those  pro- 
cesses, so  well  known  to  the  cultivator,  will  be  all-sufficient 
to  separate  the  good  grain  from  the  chaff,  while  the  impetus 
given  to  the  work  of  developing  the  plant  to  its  fullest  degree 
of  usefulness  by  the  increasing  demand  for  the  very  best 
of  each  class  will  certainly  operate  to  the  benefit  of  the 
grower. 


VARIETIES  OF  CAULIFLOWERS. 

II.  The  varieties  of  cauliflower  are  by  no  means  as  numerous 
as  those  of  cabbage,  and  the  list  does  not  appear  to  be  increas- 
ing to  any  great  extent.  In  looking  over  the  experiences 
of  the  past  fifteen  years,  in  a section  of  country  which  is 
probably  more  extensively  engaged  in  the  cauliflower  culture 
than  any  other  in  the  United  States,  we  are  impressed  with 
the  completeness  with  which  one  variety  has  succeeded 
another — in  fact,  there  is  no  other  vegetable  in  the  garden  in 
which  the  recent  introductions  have  so  completely  superseded 
the  old  sorts. 

Our  first  experiences  were  with  such  sorts  as  Early  Paris , 
Nonpareil , LeNormand' s Short  Stem,  etc.,  which  were  never 


n6 


V 

CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


too  reliable,  but  under  the  conditions  of  new  land  and 
thorough  cultivation  gave  fair  crops,  and  very  paying  ones, 
at  the  high  prices  then  ruling.  A few  years  later  these  sorts 
had  dropped  entirely  out  of  existence  with  the  introduction 
of  the  Algiers,  which,  when  first  introduced,  was  much  better 
than  any  of  the  first  named  sorts.  To-day  we  note  another 
change ; we  may  now  pass  through  hundreds  of  acres  without 
noticing  a single  plant  of  the  Algiers  variety,  so  entirely  has 
it  been  replaced  by  the  Erfurt  strains.  To  our  mind  the 
latter  change  would  not  have  been  so  complete,  but  for  the 
fact  that  the  strain  of  Algiers  seed  sold  seemed  rapidly  to 
deteriorate.  If  it  were  possible  to  secure,  with  any  degree 
of  certainty,  the  same  stock  first  introduced  under  this  name, 
we  should  still  find  it  filling  a prominent  place  in  our  fields ; 
but  after  a few  years  of  cultivation  we  found  ourselves  no 
longer  able  to  obtain  the  true  strain,  and  discarding  it 
became  a necessity. 

Algiers. — When  true,  this  sort  is  of  vigorous  growth,  with 
long  leaves  which  taper  to  a decided  point  at  the  ends  ; its 
color  is  of  a decidedly  bluish  cast,  and  in  this  respect  good 
strains  are  very  uniform.  It  should  be  a very  sure-heading 
sort,  producing  large,  solid,  white  heads,  free  from  leaves, 
and  of  excellent  quality. 

Veitch’s  Autumn  or  Italian  Giant. — We  mention  this 
sort,  not  to  commend  it,  but  to  offer  a word  of  caution.  It 
much  resembles  the  Algiers  in  color  and  habit  of  growth,  and, 
if  it  can  be  made  to  head  at  all,  the  heads  are  similar.  We 
find  it  so  slow  in  reaching  maturity  as  to  be  practically  worth- 
less in  this  section.  Possibly  it  may  be  valuable  in  localities 
favorable  to  its  development ; but  to  our  mind  the  grower 
should  plant  it  sparingly  until  he  finds  it  will  mature  the 
heads. 

The  Erfurt  strains,  of  which  there  are  several,  appear  to 
be  at  the  present  time  our  most  reliable  sorts.  It  may  be  said 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


117 

that  there  are  at  least  three  distinct  strains  of  Erfurt,  which, 
when  true,  leave  little  to  be  desired,  provided  the  locality  in 
which  they  are  grown  is  favorable  to  their  development. 

Earliest  Dwarf  Erfurt  (Fig.  50),  sometimes  called  Extra 
Early,  or  Narrow-Leafed  Erfurt,  is  a very  dwarf  variety  and  the 
earliest  of  the  Erfurt  varieties.  It  is  very  valuable  for  our 
earliest,  as  well  as  latest  planting,  as  it  reaches  maturity  so 
quickly  as  to  enable  the  grower  to  secure  a crop  in  the  event 
of  his  planting  being  delayed  until  too  late  to  plant  the  later 


Fig.  50.— Earliest  Dwarf  Erfurt  Cauliflower. 


strains.  It  is  very  reliable  about  heading,  producing  heads 
of  the  finest  quality,  although  not  so  large  as  the  later  and 
larger  growing  sorts. 

Early  Snowball  (Fig.  51)  is  a variety  of  Erfurt  which, 
since  it  has  been  extensively  advertised  under  this  name,  has 
attained  great  popularity,  and  is  now  the  main  reliance  for 
the  most  extensive  plantings.  It  is  of  dwarf  habit,  but  not 
so  small  as  the  first  mentioned  strain,  and  the  heads  are  much 
larger.  Under  favorable  conditions  nearly  every  plant  will 
make  a fine,  solid  head  of  good  size.  Although  not  so  early 


n8 


CABBAGE  AND  CAULIFLOWER. 


as  the  Earliest  Dwarf,  it  is  valuable  both  for  the  early  and  the 
late  crops,  and,  taken  altogether,  we  find  it  the  most  relia- 
ble of  the  Erfurts. 

The  Large  Erfurt  is  the  largest  and  latest  of  the  Erfurts ; 
is,  perhaps,  two  weeks  later  than  the  Snowball ; is  reliable 
about  heading,  but  does  not  mature  its  crop  so  evenly  as  the 
earlier  strains.  This  variety  is  valuable  mainly  for  the  fall 
planting,  for  which  purpose  it  is  used  largely  and  prized 
highly. 

All  of  the  Erfurts  are  similar  in  color,  a rather  bright  shade 


of  green,  and  in  habit  of  growth,  the  distinctive  features  be- 
ing found  in  the  size  of  the  plant  and  season  of  maturity. 

Burpee’s  Best  Early  Cauliflower. — Named  and  intro- 
duced by  W.  Atlee  Burpee  & Co.  in  1887,  this  grand  variety 
has  proved  to  be,  as  claimed,  the  very  best  early  cauliflower  in 
cultivation.  It  has  attained  its  present  perfection  after  sixteen 
years’  intelligent  selection  by  one  grower,  and  is  remarkable 
both  for  its  extra  earliness  and  certainty  to  head.  Of  dwarf, 
compact  growth,  with  short  stalk,  it  bears  close  planting,  and 


NOTES  ON  VARIETIES. 


119 


the  leaves,  growing  upright,  naturally  protect  the  heads.  The 
large,  handsome  heads,  measuring  eight  to  ten  inches  across, 
are  pure,  snowy-white,  very  close,  compact,  and  of  the  finest 
quality.  So  extremely  solid  and  deep,  nearly  globe-shaped, 
are  the  heads,  that  they  weigh  heavier  than  most,  if  not  all 


Fig.  52.— Burpee’s  Best  Early  Cauliflower. 


other  cauliflowers  of  the  same  size.  Market  gardeners  can 
use  “Burpee’s  Best  Early”  for  either  early  or  late,  with  full 
assurance  that  it  is  impossible  to  procure  a better  or  more 
reliable  variety. 


1 


s 


/ 


INDEX. 


AMMONIA  sulphate,  29,  32 
Anthromyia  brassicse,  42 
Aphis  brassicae,  39 
All  Seasons  cabbage,  106 


"DI-SULPHIDE  carbon,  44 

Bone-black,  dissolved,  27,  29 
Buhach,  39 


/"'ABBAGE  aphis,  39 
borer,  45. 

Burpee’s  Allhead  Early, 
104 

Safe  Crop,  113 
Sup.  Large  Late 
Flat  Dutch,  hi 
World-Beater, 

H4 

club-root  in,  51 
deterioration  of  plant,  18 
etampes,  100 
good  type  of  leaf,  14 
imperfect  head,  18 
insect  enemies,  36-52 
intermediate  sorts,  99-105 
Louisville  Drumhead,  106 
maggot,  42 
mamestra,  50 
Marvin’s  Savoy,  112 
New  Extra  Early  Express, 
101 

perfect  head  of,  17 
plusia,  46 

stem  of  good  type,  15 
over-crowded,  15 
of  poor  type,  15 
solid  at  base  of  head,  16 
not  solid  at  base  of  head,  16 
Warren’s  Stone  Mason,  108 
wild  or  original  type,  19 
worm,  36 

Zebra  Caterpillar,  36 
Canning  cauliflower,  88 
Carbon  bi-sulphide,  44, 

Cauliflower,  73,  75,  115,  119 
Algiers,  116 


Cauliflower,  Burpee’s  Best  Early,  118, 
1 19 

Earliest  Dwarf  Erfurt,  117 
Le  Normand’s  Short  Stem, 
H5 

loss  from  poor  seed,  19 
Early  Paris,  115 

Snowball,  117,  118 
packing  for  market,  85 
papering,  83 
pickling,  87 
pinning  up,  80 
tucking  up,  80 
tying  up,  80 
Cheap  seed,  21 
Clover  sod,  23 

crimson,  24 
Club-root,  51 
Cost  of  fertilizer,  30 

transportation,  31 
system,  31 

Continued  cropping,  results  of,  23 
Credit  system,  31 


DIBBERS,  56 

Dried  blood,  29,  32 
fish  scrap,  32 

Dissolved  South  Carolina  rock,  34 


DARLY  cabbages,  53-58 

Jersey  Wakefield  cabbage,  99 
Jersey  Wakefield  cabbage, 
select,  99 
varieties,  99-101 
Estimated  cost  per  acre,  93-95 
Excessive  rainfall,  25 


"FERTILIZERS,  27-35 
c high  and  low  grade, 

30-31 

dried  blood,  33 
fish.  33 
meat,  33 
meat  scrap,  33 
Fottler’s  Brunswick  cabbage,  107 


I 2 I 


122 


INDEX. 


/"*  REEN  manure,  24 

clover  as,  23, 24 
crimson  clover  as, 
24 

Ground  meat,  34 


"LJ ARLEQUIN  cabbage  bug,  48 
AA  Henderson’s  Early  Summer  cab- 
bage, 103 
Succession  cab- 
bage, 104 


Potash,  27,  29,  33 

muriate,  29,  33,  34 
sulphate,  29 
Profit  and  loss,  92 
Phyllotreta  vittata,  36 
Pyrethro-kerosene  emulsion,  50 
Pyrethrum  powder,  39 


TP  ED  cabbages,  112 
^ spider,  45 
Rock  dissolved,  S.  C.,  28,  33 
phosphate,  27 


INTERMEDIATE  sorts  of  cabbage, 
A 99-105 

Introduction,  9-12 
Imported  cabbage  worm,  37 


T^EROSENE  emulsion,  39-45 

Pyrethro,  50 


OECOND  early  cabbages,  99-101 
0 Seed, 13 

size,  appearance,  and  germi- 
native  power,  12 
Soil  and  preparation,  22 
Storing  for  winter,  70-72 
Sulphate  ammonia,  29,  32 


T AND  plaster,  41 

Late  cabbages,  59,  99,  109 
cauliflower,  76-91 

Lime,  41, 

Louisville  Drumhead  cabbage,  106 


lWTAMESTRA  picta,  47 
AVA  trifolii,  50 

Marker,  90 

Marvin’s  Savoy  cabbage,  112 
Murgantia  histrionica,  48 
Muriate  potash,  33, 34 


"MITRATE  soda,  29,  33,  34 
x 1 Notes  on  varieties,  97 
Nitrogen,  27,  29 


IDAPERING  cauliflower,  83 
Paris  green,  38 
Pickling  cauliflower,  87 
Pinning  up  cauliflower,  80 
Planting  the  seed  bed,  61 
Plasmodiophora  brassicae,  51 
Plusia  brassicae,  51 
Phosphoric  acid,  27,  29, 33 

available,  29,  33 
insoluble,  34 


HPETRANYCHUS  telarius,  45 
A Thrip,  45 
Tucking  up  cauliflower,  80 


T7ARIETIES  of  cabbages,  99 
v early,  99 

second  early,  99, 100 
intermediate,  99,  105 
late,  99,  109 
of  cauliflower,  115-119 
of  cauliflower,  Algiers, 
116 

of  cauliflower,  Burpee’s 
best  early,  118,  119 
of  cauliflower,  Erfurt, 
116,  117 

of  cauliflower,  Early 
Snowball,  117 


TX/ARREN’S  Stone  Mason,  108 
vv  Wavy-striped  Flea-Beetle,  36,  37 
When  to  plant  early  cabbages,  54 
late  cabbages,  65 
early  cauliflower,  73 
late  cauliflower,  76 

^ EBRA  Caterpillar,  47 


Horticultural  Books. 

WHY  WE  PUBLISH  THEM. 


In  the  success  of  the  planter  is  the  germ  of  our  success.  First, 
the  best  Seeds,  Bulbs,  and  Plants  ; next,  the  plainly  told  prac- 
tice of  accepted  experts  in  gardening.  This  is  why  we  publish 
books  on  Horticulture,  and  from  a modest  beginning  this  feature 
of  our  business  has  grown  to  very  considerable  proportions.  The 
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Two  Useful  Books  for  the  MILLION. 


VEGETABLES  for  the  HOME  GARDEN 

This  is  really  a 30=cent  book,  but  it.  is  so  obviously  needed  by  every  one  that 
we  offer  it  to  our  customers  at  the  merely  nominal  charge  of  ten  cents. 

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Part  First  treats  of  the  Location  and  Management  of  the  Home  Garden, 
Soils,  Drainage,  Manuring,  Composting,  Concentrated  Manures,  Hotbeds  and 
Cold  Frames,  Selection  of  Seed,  Preparation  and  Planting,  Climate,  etc. 

Part  Second  gives  accurate  and  complete  Cultural  Directions  for  all  Culinary 
Vegetables  described  in  Burpee’s  Farm  Annual,  with  Notes  on  Varieties  and 
Time  Required  from  Planting  until  Vegetables  are  Ready  for  Use. 

In  the  Appendix  are  revised  Planting  Tables  for  Vegetables,  Grass  and  Forage 
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FLOWERS  FOR  EVERY  HOME. 

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Celery  for  Profit. 


All  agree  that  Celery  offers  greater  chances  for  making  money 
than  any  other  garden  crop.  The  difficulties  encountered  by  the 
old  methods  of  growing,  however,  made  success  uncertain,  and  sure 
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know  how.  This  new 
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Steneralities — An  Introduction— The  Early  Celery— The  New  Celery  Culture- 
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keting Problems— Varieties,  etc.,  etc. 

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THE  BEAUTIFUL  FLOWER  GARDEN. 

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in  Collaboration  with  ARTHUR  FEWKS,  the  Professional  Grower. 

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SWEET  PEAS  Up  = to=Date. 


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ONIONS 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  URBANA 


30 


12  061342314 


KKum. 


A Full  and  Complete  Hand=Book  of  Onion  Growing. 


At  last  we  publish  a really  complete  hand-book  on  Onion  grow- 
ing, the  first  ever  issued  ; it  is  by  Me.  T.  Greiner,  the  author  of 
the  New  Onion  Culture,  of  which  book  he  says : “ The  New 
Onion  Culture  was  intended  mostly  to  present  a new  phase  of 
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new  direction.  As  a ‘ Hand-book  of  Onion  Growing  7 it  has  short- 
comings and  is  far  from 
being  complete.  It  leaves 
too  much  room  for  per- 
sonal inquiries.  I have 
looked  the  field  of  horti- 
cultural literature  in 
America  over  pretty 
closely,  and  am  unable  to 
find  a hand-book  for  the 
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embody  (as  they  should 
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Price,  Postpaid,  30  Cents, 

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PUBLISHED  BY 


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